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

Introduction to the verb préposer

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The English translation of the French verb préposer is “to assign” or “to appoint.” It is pronounced as “pray-poh-ZAY.”

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The language origin of préposer can be traced back to the Old French word “preposer,” which means “to put before.” In modern everyday French, it is most often used in the context of appointments or assignments, such as assigning someone to a task or appointing someone to a position of authority.

Examples:

Je vais préposer Sophie pour diriger le projet. (I am going to assign Sophie to lead the project.)
Le directeur a préposé une nouvelle équipe pour gérer les ventes. (The director has appointed a new team to manage sales.)
Le professeur préposé aux étudiants a organisé une réunion d’information. (The teacher in charge of the students has organized an informational meeting.)

Préposer – 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 préposer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je prépose	Je prépose mon collègue.	I put my colleague in charge.
Tu	tu préposes	Tu préposes les tâches.	You put the tasks in charge.
Il	il prépose	Il prépose le nouveau directeur.	He puts the new director in charge.
Elle	elle prépose	Elle prépose la réunion.	She puts the meeting in charge.
On	on prépose	On prépose les responsabilités.	We put the responsibilities in charge.
Nous	nous préposons	Nous préposons la sécurité.	We put security in charge.
Vous	vous préposez	Vous préposez la gestion.	You put management in charge.
Ils	ils préposent	Ils préposent les équipes.	They put the teams in charge.
Elles	elles préposent	Elles préposent le projet.	They put the project in charge.