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

Introduction to the verb priver

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The English translation of the French verb priver is “to deprive.” It is pronounced “pree-vair.”

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The word “priver” comes from the Latin word “privare” which means “to take away” or “to deprive.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of taking something away or depriving someone of something.

Here are three simple examples of how “priver” is used in everyday French:

Je ne veux pas me priver de desserts pendant mon régime. (I don’t want to deprive myself of desserts during my diet.)
Les enfants ont été privés de leur jouets pour avoir mal agi. (The children were deprived of their toys for misbehaving.)
Les autorités ont décidé de priver l’accès à la plage en raison de la tempête. (The authorities decided to deprive access to the beach due to the storm.)

Priver – 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 priver

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	prive	Je prive mon fils de dessert.	I deprive my son of dessert.
tu	prives	Tu prives ta soeur de liberté.	You deprive your sister of freedom.
il	prive	Il prive son ami de sommeil.	He deprives his friend of sleep.
elle	prive	Elle prive son chien de nourriture.	She deprives her dog of food.
on	prive	On prive les étudiants de distractions.	We deprive students of distractions.
nous	privons	Nous privons notre famille de vacances.	We deprive our family of vacations.
vous	privez	Vous privez vos enfants de jouets.	You deprive your children of toys.
ils	privent	Ils privent les consommateurs d’informations.	They deprive consumers of information.
elles	privent	Elles privent les travailleurs de leurs droits.	They deprive workers of their rights.