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

Introduction to the verb intenter

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The English translation of the French verb intenter is “to initiate” or “to bring a case to court.” It is pronounced as “an-tahn-tay.”

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Intenter comes from the Latin word “intendere,” meaning “to aim” or “to direct.” In everyday French, it is most often used in legal or judicial contexts, when referring to initiating legal action or bringing a case to court.

Example 1: Ils ont décidé d’intenter un procès contre leur ancien employeur pour licenciement abusif. (They decided to initiate legal action against their former employer for wrongful dismissal.)

Example 2: Le procureur a décidé d’intenter des poursuites contre le suspect pour vol à main armée. (The prosecutor has decided to bring charges against the suspect for armed robbery.)

Example 3: En tant qu’avocat, je dois souvent intenter des actions en justice pour défendre mes clients. (As a lawyer, I often have to initiate legal proceedings to defend my clients.)

Intenter – 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 intenter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	j’intente	Je j’intente un procès.	I file a lawsuit.
Tu	tu intentes	Tu intentes une action en justice.	You bring an action in court.
Il	il intente	Il intente une procédure judiciaire.	He initiates a legal process.
Elle	elle intente	Elle intente une poursuite.	She initiates legal proceedings.
On	on intente	On intente une plainte.	One files a complaint.
Nous	nous intentons	Nous intentons une action en justice.	We bring an action in court.
Vous	vous intentez	Vous intentez une poursuite.	You initiate legal proceedings.
Ils	ils intentent	Ils intentent un procès.	They file a lawsuit.
Elles	elles intentent	Elles intentent une procédure judiciaire.	They initiate a legal process.