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

Introduction to the verb prévoir

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The English translation of the French verb prévoir is “to foresee” or “to anticipate”. It is pronounced as “preh-vwahr” in its infinitive form.

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The language origin of prévoir is Latin, from the word “praevidēre” meaning “to foresee”. In everyday French, it is used to express actions or events that are predicted or planned in advance.

Example 1: Nous devons prévoir la météo avant de planifier notre pique-nique. (We need to check the weather before planning our picnic.)

Example 2: Je prévois de partir en vacances en juillet. (I am planning to go on vacation in July.)

Example 3: Le gouvernement doit prévoir des mesures pour protéger l’environnement. (The government must anticipate measures to protect the environment.)

Prévoir – 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 prévoir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	prévois	Je prévois de partir demain.	I plan on leaving tomorrow.
Tu	prévois	Tu prévois d’aller au cinéma ce soir.	You plan on going to the movies tonight.
Il	prévoit	Il prévoit de faire du vélo ce weekend.	He plans on going biking this weekend.
Elle	prévoit	Elle prévoit de voir ses amis demain.	She plans on seeing her friends tomorrow.
On	prévoit	On prévoit de partir en vacances l’été prochain.	We plan on going on vacation next summer.
Nous	prévoyons	Nous prévoyons d’avoir une réunion demain.	We plan on having a meeting tomorrow.
Vous	prévoyez	Vous prévoyez de partir en voyage bientôt.	You plan on going on a trip soon.
Ils	prévoient	Ils prévoient de déménager l’année prochaine.	They plan on moving next year.
Elles	prévoient	Elles prévoient d’aller au parc cet après-midi.	They plan on going to the park this afternoon.