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

Introduction to the verb négocier

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The English translation of the French verb négocier is “to negotiate.” It is pronounced as “nay-go-see-ay.”

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The word négocier comes from the Latin word “negotiari” meaning “to carry out business.” In everyday French, it is most often used to refer to the act of negotiating or discussing terms and conditions in a business or diplomatic setting.

Je négocie avec mon patron pour obtenir une augmentation. (I am negotiating with my boss to get a raise.)
Le gouvernement doit négocier avec les syndicats pour résoudre le conflit. (The government must negotiate with the unions to resolve the conflict.)
Nous avons réussi à négocier un meilleur prix pour la voiture. (We managed to negotiate a better price for the car.)

Négocier – 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 négocier

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	négocie	Je négocie un contrat.	I negotiate a contract.
tu	négocies	Tu négocies toujours.	You always negotiate.
il	négocie	Il négocie le prix.	He negotiates the price.
elle	négocie	Elle négocie avec le client.	She negotiates with the client.
on	négocie	On négocie pour avoir une réduction.	We negotiate to get a discount.
nous	négocions	Nous négocions ensemble.	We negotiate together.
vous	négociez	Vous négociez bien.	You negotiate well.
ils	négocient	Ils négocient depuis des heures.	They have been negotiating for hours.
elles	négocient	Elles négocient un accord.	They are negotiating an agreement.