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

Introduction to the verb quitter

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The English translation of the French verb quitter is “to quit” or “to leave.” It is pronounced as “kee-tay” in its infinitive form.

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The word quitter comes from the Old French word “quiter” which means “to free oneself” or “to leave.” It is commonly used in everyday French to express the action of leaving or quitting a place, activity, or situation.

Here are three simple examples of its usage with their respective English translations:

Je dois quitter tôt pour aller chercher mes enfants à l’école. (I have to leave early to pick up my children from school.)
Elle a décidé de quitter son emploi pour voyager autour du monde. (She decided to quit her job to travel around the world.)
On ne peut pas te laisser quitter maintenant, on a besoin de toi. (We can’t let you leave now, we need you.)

Note: The verb quitter can also be used in a figurative sense to mean “to give up” or “to abandon.”

Quitter – 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 quitter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	quitte	Je quitte le travail à 18 heures.	I leave work at 6 p.m.
Tu	quittes	Tu quittes toujours le restaurant avant 22 heures.	You always leave the restaurant before 10 p.m.
Il	quitte	Il quitte son poste à la fin de la semaine.	He leaves his job at the end of the week.
Elle	quitte	Elle quitte la maison tôt le matin.	She leaves the house early in the morning.
On	quitte	On quitte la ville pour aller à la campagne.	We leave the city to go to the countryside.
Nous	quittons	Nous quittons l’école à midi.	We leave school at noon.
Vous	quittez	Vous quittez le pays pour voyager.	You leave the country to travel.
Ils	quittent	Ils quittent le bureau vers 17 heures.	They leave the office around 5 p.m.
Elles	quittent	Elles quittent le cinéma après le film.	They leave the cinema after the movie.