Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb incuber

Introduction to the verb incuber

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The English translation of the French verb incuber is “to incubate.” It is pronounced as “ahn-koo-bay.”

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The word “incuber” comes from the Latin word “incubare” meaning “to lie upon.” In everyday French, it is most commonly used to describe the act of keeping eggs warm until they hatch, but it can also be used metaphorically to refer to the process of developing or nurturing something.

Examples:

Nous devons incuber les œufs jusqu’à ce qu’ils écloront. (We have to incubate the eggs until they hatch.)
Le projet a besoin d’être incuber avant d’être présenté au grand public. (The project needs to be incubated before being presented to the public.)
Les idées ont besoin d’être incuber avant de se concrétiser en actions. (Ideas need to be incubated before they can materialize into actions.)

Incuber – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of incuber

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’incube	J’incube un oeuf.	I am incubating an egg.
Tu	tu incubes	Tu incubes des bactéries.	You are incubating bacteria.
Il	il incube	Il incube des idées.	He is incubating ideas.
Elle	elle incube	Elle incube un projet.	She is incubating a project.
On	on incube	On incube de nouvelles entreprises.	We are incubating new businesses.
Nous	nous incubons	Nous incubons des oeufs ensemble.	We are incubating eggs together.
Vous	vous incubez	Vous incubez des cultures en laboratoire.	You are incubating cultures in the laboratory.
Ils	ils incubent	Ils incubent des projets prometteurs.	They are incubating promising projects.
Elles	elles incubent	Elles incubent des espèces en voie de disparition.	They are incubating endangered species.