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

Introduction to the verb recourir

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The English translation of the French verb recourir is “to resort.” It is pronounced as “ruh-koor-eer.”

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The word “recourir” comes from the Old French word “recourre,” which is a combination of the prefix “re-” meaning “again” and the verb “courre” meaning “to run.” It is most often used in everyday French to express the action of turning to a particular method or source in order to solve a problem or achieve a goal.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

Je dois recourir à mes économies pour acheter cette nouvelle voiture. (I have to resort to my savings to buy this new car.)
Les gens ont souvent recours à l’acupuncture pour soulager leurs douleurs. (People often resort to acupuncture to relieve their pain.)
Lorsqu’il est confronté à un problème, il a tendance à recourir à l’alcool pour se calmer. (When faced with a problem, he tends to resort to alcohol to calm himself down.)

Recourir – 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 recourir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je recours	Je recours à mes amis pour obtenir de l’aide.	I resort to my friends for help.
tu	tu recours	Tu recours souvent à cette méthode.	You often resort to this method.
il	il recourt	Il recourt à des mesures extrêmes pour résoudre le problème.	He resorts to extreme measures to solve the problem.
elle	elle recourt	Elle recourt à des astuces pour économiser de l’argent.	She resorts to tricks to save money.
on	on recourt	On recourt souvent à cette méthode en cas d’urgence.	We resort to this method often in case of emergency.
nous	nous recourons	Nous recourons à cette stratégie pour atteindre nos objectifs.	We resort to this strategy to achieve our goals.
vous	vous recourez	Vous recourez toujours à cette excuse.	You always resort to this excuse.
ils	ils recourent	Ils recourent à la violence pour régler leurs différends.	They resort to violence to settle their disputes.
elles	elles recourent	Elles recourent à des méthodes traditionnelles pour guérir les maladies.	They resort to traditional methods to cure illnesses.