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

Introduction to the verb marcher

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The English translation of the French verb marcher is “to walk”. It is pronounced as “mar-shay”.

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Marcher comes from the French word “marche” meaning “a step”. It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the action of walking, either on foot or in a vehicle.

Je vais marcher au parc ce soir. (I am going to walk to the park tonight.)
Nous avons marché pendant des heures pour atteindre le sommet de la montagne. (We walked for hours to reach the top of the mountain.)
Ils préfèrent marcher plutôt que de prendre le bus. (They prefer to walk rather than take the bus.)

Marcher – 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 marcher

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	marche	Je marche tous les jours.	I walk every day.
tu	marches	Tu marches trop vite.	You walk too fast.
il	marche	Il marche au parc.	He walks in the park.
elle	marche	Elle marche avec son chien.	She walks with her dog.
on	marche	On marche en ville.	We walk in the city.
nous	marchons	Nous marchons vers le centre-ville.	We are walking towards downtown.
vous	marchez	Vous marchez avec moi ?	Are you walking with me?
ils	marchent	Ils marchent en silence.	They walk in silence.
elles	marchent	Elles marchent main dans la main.	They walk hand in hand.