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

Introduction to the verb perdre

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The English translation of the French verb perdre is “to lose.” It is pronounced as “pehr-dr”.

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Perdre comes from the Latin word “perdere,” meaning “to destroy, lose, waste.” In everyday French, perdre is used to describe the act of losing something, whether it be tangible or intangible.

Here are three simple examples of perdre being used in everyday French, with their respective English translations:

J’ai perdu mes clés. (I lost my keys.)
Il a peur de perdre son emploi. (He is afraid of losing his job.)
Ne perds pas espoir. (Don’t lose hope.)

Perdre – 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 perdre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	perds	Je perds mes clés.	I am losing my keys.
tu	perds	Tu perds toujours ton téléphone.	You always lose your phone.
il	perd	Il perd son match de tennis.	He is losing his tennis match.
elle	perd	Elle perd son crayon tout le temps.	She always loses her pencil.
on	perd	On perd souvent beaucoup d’argent.	We often lose a lot of money.
nous	perdons	Nous perdons nos bagages à l’aéroport.	We are losing our luggage at the airport.
vous	perdez	Vous perdez du poids en faisant de l’exercice.	You are losing weight by exercising.
ils	perdent	Ils perdent leur patience facilement.	They easily lose their patience.
elles	perdent	Elles perdent leur sang-froid rapidement.	They quickly lose their cool.