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

Introduction to the verb marchander

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The English translation of the French verb marchander is “to bargain” or “to haggle”. The infinitive form of marchander is pronounced as “mar-shahn-dey”.

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Marchander comes from the Old French word “marcheandier”, which means “to trade” or “to deal”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of negotiating a lower price for goods or services.

Examples:

Je vais au marché pour marchander le prix des fruits et légumes. (I’m going to the market to bargain for the price of fruits and vegetables.)
Les touristes aiment marchander dans les souks de Marrakech. (Tourists like to haggle in the souks of Marrakech.)
Il est important de marchander lors de l’achat d’une voiture d’occasion. (It’s important to negotiate when buying a used car.)

Marchander – 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 marchander

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	marchande	Je marchande avec le vendeur.	I bargain with the seller.
tu	marchandes	Tu marchandes toujours.	You always bargain.
il	marchande	Il marchande pour obtenir une meilleure offre.	He bargains to get a better deal.
elle	marchande	Elle marchande pour économiser de l’argent.	She bargains to save money.
on	marchande	On marchande pour trouver un bon prix.	We bargain to find a good price.
nous	marchandons	Nous marchandons ensemble.	We bargain together.
vous	marchandez	Vous marchandez avec le vendeur.	You bargain with the seller.
ils	marchandent	Ils marchandent pour obtenir une réduction.	They bargain to get a discount.
elles	marchandent	Elles marchandent pour obtenir un meilleur prix.	They (feminine) bargain to get a better price.