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

Introduction to the verb pressentir

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The English translation of the French verb pressentir is “to sense” or “to have a feeling about”. The infinitive form is pronounced as “preh-sah(n)-teer”.

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Pressentir comes from the combination of the Latin prefix “pre-” meaning “before” and the verb “sentire” meaning “to feel”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe a premonition or intuition about something.

Examples:

Je pressentais que quelque chose n’allait pas. – I had a feeling that something was wrong.
Il a pressenti le danger et a pris une autre route. – He sensed the danger and took a different route.
Nous pressentions que la soirée allait être ennuyeuse. – We had a feeling that the evening was going to be boring.

Pressentir – 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 pressentir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je pressens	Je pressens un danger.	I sense danger.
tu	tu pressens	Tu pressens les réponses.	You sense the answers.
il	il pressent	Il pressent une opportunité.	He senses an opportunity.
elle	elle pressent	Elle pressent une présence.	She senses a presence.
on	on pressent	On pressent une tempête.	One senses a storm.
nous	nous pressentons	Nous pressentons une victoire.	We sense a victory.
vous	vous pressentez	Vous pressentez une solution.	You sense a solution.
ils	ils pressentent	Ils pressentent un changement.	They sense a change.
elles	elles pressentent	Elles pressentent un danger.	They sense a danger.