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

Introduction to the verb plaindre

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The English translation of the French verb plaindre is “to pity” or “to feel sorry for.” The infinitive form is pronounced “plahn-druh.”

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The word plaindre comes from the Latin word “plangere” which means “to mourn or lament.” In everyday French, it is most often used to express sympathy or compassion towards someone or to express feelings of regret or sorrow.

Examples:

Je plains les victimes de cette catastrophe. (I pity the victims of this disaster.)
Nous ne pouvons pas plaindre notre sort, nous avons une belle vie. (We cannot feel sorry for ourselves, we have a good life.)
Elle se plaint souvent de son travail. (She often complains about her job.)

Plaindre – 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 plaindre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je plains	Je plains mon ami.	I pity my friend.
Tu	Tu plains	Tu plains ta sœur.	You pity your sister.
Il	Il plaint	Il plaint son voisin.	He pities his neighbor.
Elle	Elle plaint	Elle plaint sa collègue.	She pities her colleague.
On	On plaint	On plaint les victimes.	We pity the victims.
Nous	Nous plaignons	Nous nous plaignons de la chaleur.	We complain about the heat.
Vous	Vous plaignez	Vous vous plaignez souvent.	You often complain.
Ils	Ils plaignent	Ils plaignent leur situation.	They pity their situation.
Elles	Elles plaignent	Elles plaignent leurs amis.	They pity their friends.