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

Introduction to the verb photographier

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The English translation of the French verb photographier is “to take a photograph.” It is pronounced as “foh-toh-grah-fee-yay.”

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The language origin of photographier is derived from the French word “photographie,” which comes from the Greek words “phos” (light) and “graphé” (writing). In everyday French, photographier is used to describe the action of taking a photograph or capturing an image with a camera.

Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Je vais photographier la vue depuis la tour Eiffel. (I am going to take a photograph of the view from the Eiffel Tower.)
Il adore photographier des paysages naturels. (He loves to take photographs of natural landscapes.)
Nous avons passé toute la journée à photographier les monuments de la ville. (We spent the whole day taking photographs of the city’s monuments.)

Photographier – 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 photographier

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	photographie	Je photographie souvent des paysages.	I often take pictures of landscapes.
tu	photographies	Tu photographies tes amis à la fête.	You take pictures of your friends at the party.
il	photographie	Il photographie des monuments célèbres.	He takes pictures of famous monuments.
elle	photographie	Elle photographie des animaux sauvages.	She takes pictures of wild animals.
on	photographie	On photographie les événements sportifs.	We take pictures of sports events.
nous	photographions	Nous photographions nos vacances.	We take pictures of our vacations.
vous	photographiez	Vous photographiez votre famille.	You take pictures of your family.
ils	photographient	Ils photographient leur nourriture avant de manger.	They take pictures of their food before eating.
elles	photographient	Elles photographient leurs enfants qui jouent.	They take pictures of their children playing.