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

Introduction to the verb raidir

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The English translation of the French verb raidir is “to stiffen” or “to tense up.” It is pronounced “reh-deer” in its infinitive form.

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Raidir comes from the Old French word “redir,” meaning “to strengthen” or “to make rigid.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe physical actions or sensations, such as stiffening one’s muscles or becoming tense in a situation.

Examples:

Elle a raidi ses muscles avant de sauter dans l’eau froide. (She stiffened her muscles before jumping into the cold water.)
Le chien a raidi son corps en entendant un bruit suspect. (The dog tensed up upon hearing a suspicious noise.)
Face à la menace, le groupe a raidi sa position et a décidé de ne pas céder. (Faced with the threat, the group stiffened their stance and decided not to give in.)

Raidir – 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 raidir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je raidis	Je raidis le tissu pour le coudre.	I am straightening the fabric to sew it.
Tu	tu raidis	Tu raidis tes muscles avant de soulever des poids.	You tense your muscles before lifting weights.
Il	il raidit	Il raidit ses épaules devant la caméra.	He stiffens his shoulders in front of the camera.
Elle	elle raidit	Elle raidit ses lèvres en signe de détermination.	She tightens her lips in a sign of determination.
On	on raidit	On raidit les règles pour être plus strictes.	We tighten the rules to be stricter.
Nous	nous raidissons	Nous raidissons nos positions sur le sujet.	We are stiffening our positions on the subject.
Vous	vous raidissez	Vous raidissez vos jambes pour maintenir l’équilibre.	You are stiffening your legs to maintain balance.
Ils	ils raidissent	Ils raidissent l’atmosphère avec leur dispute.	They are making the atmosphere tense with their argument.
Elles	elles raidissent	Elles raidissent leurs muscles avant la course.	They are tensing their muscles before the race.