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

Introduction to the verb mainmettre

Get the present tense conjugation of mainmettre. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb mainmettre is “to put or place something by hand.” It is pronounced as “mehn-mehtr.”

Table of Contents

Mainmettre comes from the combination of the French words “main” meaning “hand” and “mettre” meaning “to put or place.” It is most often used in everyday French to indicate physically placing or putting something somewhere using one’s hands.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

J’ai mainmis mes clés sur la table. (I put my keys on the table.)
Le boulanger mainmet la baguette dans le four. (The baker puts the baguette in the oven.)
Ne mainmets pas tes doigts dans la prise électrique. (Don’t put your fingers in the electrical outlet.)

Note: All examples are direct translations without changing the structure of the sentence.

Mainmettre – 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 mainmettre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je mainmets	Je mainmets mon manteau avant de sortir.	I put on my coat before going out.
tu	tu mainmets	Tu mainmets les couverts sur la table.	You put the silverware on the table.
il	il mainmet	Il mainmet ses chaussures avant de partir.	He puts on his shoes before leaving.
elle	elle mainmet	Elle mainmet une robe élégante pour la soirée.	She puts on an elegant dress for the evening.
on	on mainmet	On mainmet les bagages dans le coffre de la voiture.	We put the luggage in the trunk of the car.
nous	nous mainmettons	Nous mainmettons le feu dans la cheminée.	We put the fire in the fireplace.
vous	vous mainmettez	Vous mainmettez vos idées en commun pour résoudre le problème.	You put your ideas together to solve the problem.
ils	ils mainmettent	Ils mainmettent les fleurs dans un vase.	They put the flowers in a vase.
elles	elles mainmettent	Elles mainmettent leurs affaires dans un sac.	They put their belongings in a bag.