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

Introduction to the verb koter

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The English translation of the French verb koter is “to bargain” or “to haggle.” It is pronounced as “ko-tay.”

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The language origin of koter is from the Old French word “coter,” meaning “to estimate” or “to reckon.” It is most often used in everyday French in the context of negotiating prices or terms.

Examples:

Je vais essayer de koter le prix de cette voiture. (I will try to bargain the price of this car.)
Les marchands au marché sont ouverts à koter les prix avec leurs clients. (The merchants at the market are open to bargaining prices with their clients.)
Il est important de bien koter avant de faire un achat important. (It is important to negotiate well before making a major purchase.)

Koter – 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 koter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	cotte	Je cotte	I am coting
tu	cotes	Tu cotes	You are coting
il	cote	Il cote	He is coting
elle	cote	Elle cote	She is coting
on	cote	On cote	One/We/They is/are coting
nous	cotons	Nous cotons	We are coting
vous	cotez	Vous cotez	You are coting
ils	cotent	Ils cotent	They are coting (masculine)
elles	cotent	Elles cotent	They are coting (feminine)