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

Introduction to the verb prolonger

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The English translation of the French verb prolonger is “to prolong” or “to extend”. It is pronounced as “proh-loh-ngey” in its infinitive form.

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The verb prolonger comes from the Latin word “prolongare”, meaning “to lengthen” or “to extend”. In everyday French, it is most often used to describe the action of extending or lengthening something in terms of time, duration, or distance.

Examples of usage:

Je vais prolonger mon séjour à Paris de deux jours. (I am going to extend my stay in Paris by two days.)
Le gouvernement a décidé de prolonger le couvre-feu jusqu’à 23h. (The government has decided to prolong the curfew until 11pm.)
Il faudra prolonger le contrat de location de l’appartement pour six mois de plus. (We will have to extend the apartment rental contract for another six months.)

Prolonger – 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 prolonger

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	prolonge	Je prolonge mon séjour.	I am extending my stay.
Tu	prolonges	Tu prolonges tes vacances.	You are extending your vacation.
Il	prolonge	Il prolonge la durée du contrat.	He is extending the contract length.
Elle	prolonge	Elle prolonge son congé.	She is extending her leave.
On	prolonge	On prolonge la période d’essai.	We are extending the trial period.
Nous	prolongeons	Nous prolongeons notre séjour.	We are extending our stay.
Vous	prolongez	Vous prolongez la date limite.	You are extending the deadline.
Ils	prolongent	Ils prolongent leur voyage.	They are extending their trip.
Elles	prolongent	Elles prolongent leurs vacances.	They are extending their vacation.