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

Introduction to the verb influer

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The English translation of the French verb influer is “to influence.” It is pronounced as “ahn-floo-eh.”

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The language origin of influer is from the Latin word “influere” which means “to flow into.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the context of someone or something having an impact or influence on someone or something else.

Three simple examples of its usage, with their respective English translations, are:

Les parents ont beaucoup d’influence sur leurs enfants. (Parents have a lot of influence on their children.)
La musique peut influer sur notre humeur. (Music can influence our mood.)
Les décisions du président peuvent influer sur l’économie du pays. (The president’s decisions can have an impact on the country’s economy.)

Influer – 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 influer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’influe	Je n’influe pas sur cette décision.	I do not influence this decision.
tu	tu influes	Tu influes sur les autres.	You influence others.
il	il influence	Il influence le comportement de son équipe.	He influences his team’s behavior.
elle	elle influence	Elle influence le choix de ses amis.	She influences her friends’ choices.
on	on influence	On influence souvent nos opinions.	We often influence our opinions.
nous	nous influençons	Nous influençons le résultat.	We influence the outcome.
vous	vous influencez	Vous influencez les décisions importantes.	You influence important decisions.
ils	ils influent	Ils influent sur l’économie du pays.	They influence the country’s economy.
elles	elles influent	Elles influent sur le cours des choses.	They influence the course of things.