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

Introduction to the verb naviguer

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The English translation of the French verb naviguer is “to navigate” or “to sail.” The infinitive form of naviguer is pronounced “nah-vee-guh-yay.”

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The word naviguer originated from the Latin word “navigare,” which means “to sail.” It is most often used in everyday French to refer to traveling by boat or sea, but it can also be used in a wider sense to mean “to navigate” or “to move through.”

Example 1: Je navigue sur un voilier. (I am sailing on a sailboat.)
Example 2: Les explorateurs naviguaient sur l’océan pour atteindre de nouveaux territoires. (The explorers sailed on the ocean to reach new territories.)
Example 3: Nous naviguons sur Internet pour trouver des informations. (We navigate on the Internet to find information.)

Naviguer – 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 naviguer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	navigue	Je navigue sur	I navigate on
tu	navigues	Tu navigues en	You navigate in
il	navigue	Il navigue avec	He navigates with
elle	navigue	Elle navigue en	She navigates in
on	navigue	On navigue vers	We navigate towards
nous	naviguons	Nous naviguons	We navigate
vous	naviguez	Vous naviguez	You navigate
ils	naviguent	Ils naviguent	They navigate
elles	naviguent	Elles naviguent	They navigate