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

Introduction to the verb moudre

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The English translation of the French verb moudre is “to grind”. It is pronounced “mood-ruh” in its infinitive form.

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The word moudre originates from the Latin word “mola”, meaning “millstone”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of grinding something, such as coffee beans or grains.

Here are three simple examples of its usage, with their respective English translations:

Je dois moudre du café pour faire du café moulu. (I have to grind some coffee to make ground coffee.)
Les femmes du village moulent le grain pour faire de la farine fraîche. (The women of the village grind the grain to make fresh flour.)
Tu peux moudre les épices dans ce mortier. (You can grind the spices in this mortar.)

Moudre – 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 moudre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	mouds	Je mouds du café.	I grind some coffee.
tu	mouds	Tu mouds les épices.	You grind the spices.
il	moud	Il moud le blé.	He grinds the wheat.
elle	moud	Elle moud du poivre.	She grinds some pepper.
on	moult	On moult le maïs.	We grind the corn.
nous	moulons	Nous moulons du sel.	We grind some salt.
vous	moulez	Vous moulez des noix.	You grind some nuts.
ils	moulent	Ils moulent le café.	They grind the coffee.
elles	moulent	Elles moulent les céréales.	They grind the cereals.