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

Introduction to the verb recourber

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The English translation of the French verb recourber is “to bend back” or “to curve back.” The infinitive form is pronounced “ruh-coor-bay.”

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Recourber comes from the Old French word “recurber,” which comes from the Latin word “recurvare,” meaning “to bend back.” It is most often used in everyday French in the context of physical objects or body parts that are being bent or curved backwards.

Examples:

Il a recourbé son bras pour montrer son tatouage. (He bent his arm back to show his tattoo.)
La route recourbe brusquement à droite. (The road curves sharply to the right.)
Elle a recourbé ses orteils pour atteindre la balle. (She curled her toes back to reach the ball.)

Recourber – 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 recourber

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	recourbe	Je recourbe mes cheveux.	I curl my hair.
tu	recourbes	Tu recourbes tes doigts.	You curl your fingers.
il	recourbe	Il recourbe le papier.	He curls the paper.
elle	recourbe	Elle recourbe sa colonne vertébrale.	She arches her spine.
on	recourbe	On recourbe les tuyaux.	We bend the pipes.
nous	recourbons	Nous recourbons les rubans.	We curl the ribbons.
vous	recourbez	Vous recourbez le tissu.	You curl the fabric.
ils	recourbent	Ils recourbent leurs bras.	They curl their arms.
elles	recourbent	Elles recourbent leurs cils.	They curl their eyelashes.