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

Introduction to the verb prévenir

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The English translation of the French verb prévenir is “to prevent” or “to warn.” The infinitive form, prévenir, is pronounced “preh-vuh-neer.”

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Prévenir comes from the Latin word “praeventus,” meaning “to come before” or “to anticipate.” It is commonly used in everyday French to convey the action of taking precautionary measures or giving a heads up about a potential problem.

Examples:

Je vais prévenir mes parents de mon arrivée tardive. (I will warn my parents of my late arrival.)
Il est important de prévenir les risques avant de commencer le projet. (It is important to prevent risks before starting the project.)
Le médecin m’a prévenu que je devrais éviter les aliments épicés. (The doctor warned me that I should avoid spicy foods.)

Prévenir – 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 prévenir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	préviens	Je te préviens de mon arrivée.	I’m letting you know of my arrival.
Tu	préviens	Tu préviens ta famille avant de partir ?	Are you telling your family before leaving?
Il	prévient	Il prévient toujours ses amis lorsqu’il a du retard.	He always lets his friends know when he’s running late.
Elle	prévient	Elle prévient ses collègues qu’elle sera absente demain.	She’s informing her colleagues that she’ll be absent tomorrow.
On	prévient	On prévient toujours nos voisins avant de faire une fête.	We always warn our neighbors before throwing a party.
Nous	prévenons	Nous prévenons nos clients en cas de problème.	We inform our clients in case of any issues.
Vous	prévenez	Vous prévenez vos parents avant de sortir le soir ?	Do you let your parents know before going out at night?
Ils	préviennent	Ils préviennent leur équipe de toute modification d’horaire.	They inform their team of any schedule changes.
Elles	préviennent	Elles préviennent leurs enfants qu’elles seront en retard.	They’re telling their children that they’ll be late.