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

Introduction to the verb inventer

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The English translation of the French verb inventer is “to invent.” It is pronounced as “an-vahn-tay.”

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The language origin of inventer can be traced back to the Latin word “invenire,” meaning “to come upon” or “to discover.” In modern French, it is most often used in everyday language as a reflexive verb, “s’inventer,” which means “to create” or “to make up.”

Examples:

Je n’ai pas de cadeau pour mon ami, je vais devoir m’inventer une excuse. (I don’t have a gift for my friend, I’ll have to come up with an excuse.)
Le chef a inventé une nouvelle recette pour le menu du jour. (The chef invented a new recipe for the daily menu.)
Les enfants aiment s’inventer des histoires avant de dormir. (Children like to make up stories before going to sleep.)

Inventer – 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 inventer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	invente	J’invente une nouvelle recette.	I am inventing a new recipe.
tu	inventes	Tu inventes des histoires.	You invent stories.
il	invente	Il invente une machine.	He invents a machine.
elle	invente	Elle invente des poèmes.	She invents poems.
on	invente	On invente souvent des excuses.	We often invent excuses.
nous	inventons	Nous inventons des solutions.	We invent solutions.
vous	inventez	Vous inventez de nouvelles technologies.	You invent new technologies.
ils	inventent	Ils inventent des jeux.	They invent games.
elles	inventent	Elles inventent des danses.	They invent dances.