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

Introduction to the verb peser

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The English translation of the French verb peser is “to weigh.” It is pronounced as /pe-ze/.

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The word peser comes from the Latin word “pensare,” which means “to weigh” or “to balance.” In everyday French, peser is most often used in the context of measuring weight or evaluating the heaviness of an object.

Here are three examples of how peser is used in everyday French:

Je vais peser mes valises avant de partir en voyage. (I am going to weigh my suitcases before leaving on a trip.)
Il faut peser les ingrédients avant de les mélanger. (You need to weigh the ingredients before mixing them.)
Elle a pesé son chien et il pèse 15 kilos. (She weighed her dog and it weighs 15 kilograms.)

Peser – 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 peser

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je pèse	Je pèse les ingrédients.	I weigh the ingredients.
Tu	tu pèses	Tu pèses les fruits.	You weigh the fruits.
Il	il pèse	Il pèse ses valises.	He weighs his suitcases.
Elle	elle pèse	Elle pèse la viande.	She weighs the meat.
On	on pèse	On pèse les sacs.	We weigh the bags.
Nous	nous pesons	Nous pesons les légumes.	We weigh the vegetables.
Vous	vous pesez	Vous pesez vos bagages.	You weigh your luggage.
Ils	ils pèsent	Ils pèsent les livres.	They weigh the books.
Elles	elles pèsent	Elles pèsent les vêtements.	They weigh the clothes.