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

Introduction to the verb polluer

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The English translation of the French verb polluer is “to pollute” and it is pronounced poh-loo-ay.

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Polluer comes from the Latin word “polluere” which means to defile or make unclean. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of contaminating or harming the environment, often through the release of toxic substances.

Examples of its usage include:

Les usines polluent les rivières avec leurs déchets industriels. (Factories pollute rivers with their industrial waste.)
Nous devons arrêter d’utiliser des sacs en plastique pour ne pas polluer davantage la planète. (We must stop using plastic bags to avoid further polluting the planet.)
L’utilisation excessive de pesticides pollue les sols et nuit à la biodiversité. (The excessive use of pesticides pollutes the soil and harms biodiversity.)

Polluer – 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 polluer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	pollue	Je pollue la rivière.	I pollute the river.
Tu	pollues	Tu pollues l’air avec ta voiture.	You pollute the air with your car.
Il	pollue	Il pollue les océans avec ses déchets.	He pollutes the oceans with his waste.
Elle	pollue	Elle pollue la forêt en jetant ses ordures.	She pollutes the forest by littering.
On	pollue	On pollue notre planète sans se soucier des conséquences.	We pollute our planet without caring about the consequences.
Nous	polluons	Nous polluons la terre avec nos activités industrielles.	We pollute the earth with our industrial activities.
Vous	polluez	Vous polluez les rivières en déversant des produits chimiques.	You pollute the rivers by pouring chemicals.
Ils	polluent	Ils polluent l’atmosphère avec leurs usines.	They pollute the atmosphere with their factories.
Elles	polluent	Elles polluent les sols en utilisant des pesticides.	They pollute the soil by using pesticides.