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

Introduction to the verb nitrer

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The English translation of nitrer is “to nitrate.” It is pronounced as “nee-trer.”

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The origin of nitrer can be traced back to the Latin word “nitrum” which means “saltpeter.” It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the process of adding nitrate to a substance or material.

Examples of its usage include:

J’ai ajouté du nitrate à mon sol pour améliorer la croissance de mes plantes. (I added nitrate to my soil to improve the growth of my plants.)
Les aliments industriels sont souvent nitrés pour les conserver plus longtemps. (Processed foods are often nitrated to preserve them longer.)
Le bois de cette maison a été traité avec un produit nitrant pour le protéger contre les insectes. (The wood of this house has been treated with a nitrating product to protect it from insects.)

Nitrer – 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 nitrer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	nitre	Je nitre du minerai de fer.	I nitrate iron ore.
Tu	nitres	Tu nitres cette terre pour la rendre fertile.	You nitrify this land to make it fertile.
Il	nitre	Il nitre ses engrais avant de les utiliser.	He nitrates his fertilizers before using them.
Elle	nitre	Elle nitre son verre à l’aide d’un acide.	She nitrates her glass with an acid.
On	nitre	On nitre souvent les aliments pour les conserver plus longtemps.	One often nitrates food to preserve it longer.
Nous	nitrons	Nous nitrons nos arômes pour en renforcer le goût.	We nitrate our flavors to enhance their taste.
Vous	nitrez	Vous nitrez les explosifs dans cette usine ?	Are you nitrating explosives in this factory?
Ils	nitrent	Ils nitrent de l’ammoniaque pour produire de l’acide nitrique.	They nitrate ammonia to produce nitric acid.
Elles	nitrent	Elles nitrent leurs bombes avant de les utiliser.	They nitrate their bombs before using them.