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

Introduction to the verb motiver

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The English translation of the French verb motiver is “to motivate.” The infinitive form of motiver is pronounced as “moh-tee-vay.”

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Motiver comes from the French noun “motif,” meaning “motive.” It is most often used in everyday French to express the action of encouraging or inspiring someone to do something, or to give a reason or justification for someone’s actions or behavior.

Examples of motiver in everyday French:

Je veux motiver mes élèves à travailler dur pour réussir leurs examens.
Translation: I want to motivate my students to work hard to pass their exams.
Le discours du président a réussi à motiver la population à soutenir ses réformes.
Translation: The president’s speech succeeded in motivating the population to support his reforms.
Notre entraîneur sait comment nous motiver avant un match important.
Translation: Our coach knows how to motivate us before an important match.

Motiver – 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 motiver

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je motive	Je motive mon équipe.	I motivate my team.
Tu	Tu motives	Tu motives tes amis.	You motivate your friends.
Il	Il motive	Il motive son employé.	He motivates his employee.
Elle	Elle motive	Elle motive sa classe.	She motivates her class.
On	On motive	On motive les étudiants.	We motivate the students.
Nous	Nous motivons	Nous motivons nos collaborateurs.	We motivate our colleagues.
Vous	Vous motivez	Vous motivez vos partenaires.	You motivate your partners.
Ils	Ils motivent	Ils motivent leur équipe.	They motivate their team.
Elles	Elles motivent	Elles motivent leur groupe.	They motivate their group.