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

Introduction to the verb prédire

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The English translation of the French verb prédire is “to predict.” It is pronounced “pray-deer.”

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Prédire originated from the Latin word “praedictus,” which means “declared beforehand.” In everyday French, it is most often used to describe the act of making a forecast or prediction about something that will happen in the future.

Examples:

Les météorologues prédisent de fortes pluies pour demain. (The meteorologists are predicting heavy rain for tomorrow.)
Personne ne pouvait prédire l’issue de l’élection. (No one could predict the outcome of the election.)
Les experts prédisent une augmentation du chômage dans les prochains mois. (Experts are predicting an increase in unemployment in the coming months.)

Prédire – 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 prédire

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je prédits	Je prédits l’avenir.	I predict the future.
tu	tu prédis	Tu prédis les résultats.	You predict the outcomes.
il	il prédit	Il prédit le temps.	He predicts the weather.
elle	elle prédit	Elle prédit le gagnant.	She predicts the winner.
on	on prédit	On prédit des changements.	We predict changes.
nous	nous prédisons	Nous prédisons les conséquences.	We predict the consequences.
vous	vous prédisez	Vous prédisez le futur.	You predict the future.
ils	ils prédisent	Ils prédisent l’avenir.	They predict the future.
elles	elles prédisent	Elles prédisent des événements.	They predict events.