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

Introduction to the verb percevoir

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The English translation of the French verb percevoir is “to perceive.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “per-seh-vwahr.”

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Percevoir comes from the Latin word “percipere,” meaning “to take in” or “to grasp.” In everyday French, percevoir is most often used to mean “to perceive” or “to understand,” and can also refer to receiving or collecting something, such as a payment or information.

Examples:

Je perçois une odeur étrange dans la cuisine. (I perceive a strange smell in the kitchen.)
Les enfants ont du mal à percevoir les conséquences de leurs actions. (Children have a hard time understanding the consequences of their actions.)
La société a perçu des millions de dollars en bénéfices l’année dernière. (The company received millions of dollars in profits last year.)

Percevoir – 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 percevoir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	perçois	Je perçois l’odeur des fleurs.	I perceive the smell of flowers.
Tu	perçois	Tu perçois le bruit de la musique.	You perceive the sound of music.
Il	perçoit	Il perçoit les couleurs vives de l’arc-en-ciel.	He perceives the bright colors of the rainbow.
Elle	perçoit	Elle perçoit les émotions des autres.	She perceives the emotions of others.
On	perçoit	On perçoit les changements dans l’air.	One perceives the changes in the air.
Nous	percevons	Nous percevons les signaux de détresse.	We perceive distress signals.
Vous	percevez	Vous percevez les détails que personne d’autre ne voit.	You perceive the details that no one else sees.
Ils	perçoivent	Ils perçoivent les sons de la nature.	They perceive the sounds of nature.
Elles	perçoivent	Elles perçoivent les besoins des enfants.	They perceive the needs of children.