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

Introduction to the verb pacser

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The English translation of the French verb pacser is “to enter into a civil union.” The infinitive form of pacser is pronounced as “pah-seh.”

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The word pacser comes from the French word “pacs” which stands for pacte civil de solidarité (civil solidarity pact). It was introduced in France in 1999 as an alternative to marriage for couples who do not wish to enter into a traditional marriage.

In everyday French, pacser is used to describe the act of entering into a civil union with someone. It can also be used as a noun to refer to the legal union itself.

Examples:

Ils ont décidé de se pacser après 10 ans de vie commune. (They have decided to enter into a civil union after 10 years of living together.)
Le couple a choisi de se pacser plutôt que de se marier. (The couple chose to enter into a civil union instead of getting married.)
Les avantages fiscaux sont les mêmes pour les couples mariés et les couples pacsés. (The tax benefits are the same for married couples and civil unions.)

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Pacser – 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 pacser

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	pacse	Je pacse avec mon partenaire.	I am entering into a civil partnership with my partner.
tu	pacses	Tu pacses avec ton partenaire.	You are entering into a civil partnership with your partner.
il	pacse	Il pacse avec son partenaire.	He is entering into a civil partnership with his partner.
elle	pacse	Elle pacse avec son partenaire.	She is entering into a civil partnership with her partner.
on	pacse	On pacse avec notre partenaire.	We are entering into a civil partnership with our partner.
nous	pacsons	Nous pacsons avec notre partenaire.	We are entering into a civil partnership with our partner.
vous	pacsez	Vous pacsez avec votre partenaire.	You (plural) are entering into a civil partnership with your partner.
ils	pacsent	Ils pacsent avec leur partenaire.	They are entering into a civil partnership with their partner.
elles	pacsent	Elles pacsent avec leur partenaire.	They are entering into a civil partnership with their partner.