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

Introduction to the verb paraître

Get the present tense conjugation of paraître. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb paraître is “to appear” or “to seem.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “pa-ra-TR.”

Table of Contents

The word paraître comes from the Latin word “apparere,” meaning “to appear.” In everyday French, paraître is most often used in the sense of something or someone having a certain appearance or giving a certain impression. It can also be used in the context of publishing or releasing something.

Here are three examples of its usage:

La maison paraît abandonnée. (The house appears abandoned.)
Il paraît fatigué après sa longue journée de travail. (He seems tired after his long day at work.)
Le nouveau livre de l’écrivain vient de paraître. (The new book by the writer has just been released.)

Paraître – 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 paraître

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je parais	Je parais plus jeune que mon âge.	I appear younger than my age.
Tu	tu parais	Tu parais fatigué aujourd’hui.	You appear tired today.
Il	il paraît	Il paraît qu’il va pleuvoir demain.	It appears it will rain tomorrow.
Elle	elle paraît	Elle paraît toujours souriante.	She always appears smiling.
On	on paraît	On paraît que c’est un bon restaurant.	They say it’s a good restaurant.
Nous	nous paraissons	Nous paraissons confiants pour l’entretien.	We appear confident for the interview.
Vous	vous paraissez	Vous paraissez bien en forme.	You appear to be in good shape.
Ils	ils paraissent	Ils paraissent très contents.	They appear very happy.
Elles	elles paraissent	Elles paraissent très occupées.	They appear very busy.