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

Introduction to the verb prétendre

Get the present tense conjugation of prétendre. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb prétendre is “to claim” or “to pretend.” The infinitive form of prétendre is pronounced as “preh-tahn-druh.”

Table of Contents

Prétendre has its origins in the Latin word “praetendere,” which means “to hold forth or assert.” In everyday French, it is most often used in a formal or legal context to express a claim or assertion. It can also be used in a more informal sense to mean “to pretend” or “to make believe.”

J’ai entendu dire que Pierre prétend avoir gagné à la loterie. (I heard that Pierre claims to have won the lottery.)
Les étudiants prétendent que l’examen était trop difficile. (The students claim that the exam was too difficult.)
Elle prétend être malade pour ne pas aller au travail. (She pretends to be sick to avoid going to work.)

Prétendre – 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 prétendre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je prétends	Je prétends être malade.	I claim to be sick.
Tu	Tu prétends	Tu prétends savoir la réponse.	You claim to know the answer.
Il	Il prétend	Il prétend être innocent.	He claims to be innocent.
Elle	Elle prétend	Elle prétend être d’accord.	She claims to agree.
On	On prétend	On prétend que c’est facile.	People claim it’s easy.
Nous	Nous prétendons	Nous prétendons être amis.	We claim to be friends.
Vous	Vous prétendez	Vous prétendez être bon cuisinier.	You claim to be a good cook.
Ils	Ils prétendent	Ils prétendent avoir raison.	They claim to be right.
Elles	Elles prétendent	Elles prétendent être sportives.	They claim to be athletic.