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

Introduction to the verb opérer

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The English translation of the French verb opérer is “to operate” or “to perform”. It is pronounced as “oh-peh-ray”.

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The origin of opérer can be traced back to the Latin word “operari”, which means “to work” or “to labor”. In everyday French, opérer is most often used in the context of medical procedures or surgeries. It can also be used in a broader sense to refer to any type of action or process.

Examples:

Mon grand-père s’est fait opérer du cœur la semaine dernière. (My grandfather had heart surgery last week.)
L’équipe médicale opère jour et nuit pour sauver des vies. (The medical team operates day and night to save lives.)
Il doit opérer une réorganisation complète de son entreprise pour la rendre plus efficace. (He has to undertake a complete reorganization of his company to make it more efficient.)

Opérer – 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 opérer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’opère	J’opère des patients.	I operate on patients.
tu	tu opères	Tu opères en ce moment.	You are operating right now.
il	il opère	Il opère avec précision.	He operates with precision.
elle	elle opère	Elle opère depuis des années.	She has been operating for years.
on	on opère	On opère dans cette salle.	We operate in this room.
nous	nous opérons	Nous opérons en équipe.	We operate as a team.
vous	vous opérez	Vous opérez les urgences.	You operate on emergencies.
ils	ils opèrent	Ils opèrent à l’aube.	They operate at dawn.
elles	elles opèrent	Elles opèrent sur le coeur.	They operate on the heart.