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

Introduction to the verb reculer

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The English translation of the French verb reculer is “to move back” or “to step back”. It is pronounced as “ruh-kew-lay”.

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The origin of the word reculer can be traced back to the Latin word “reculare”, meaning “to recoil”. In everyday French, reculer is commonly used in both literal and figurative senses.

Examples of usage:

Je dois reculer ma voiture pour laisser passer l’autre voiture. (I have to move my car back to let the other car pass.)
Face à la pression des manifestants, le président a reculé sur sa décision. (Faced with pressure from the protesters, the president backed down on his decision.)
La date limite a été reculée de deux semaines. (The deadline has been pushed back by two weeks.)

Reculer – 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 reculer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	recule	Je recule devant la porte.	I back away from the door.
Tu	recules	Tu recules toujours lors des combats.	You always retreat during fights.
Il	recule	Il recule devant l’adversaire.	He backs down in front of the opponent.
Elle	recule	Elle recule lorsque les choses deviennent difficiles.	She retreats when things get tough.
On	recule	On recule devant l’obstacle.	One backs away from the obstacle.
Nous	reculons	Nous reculons pour mieux sauter.	We step back to jump better.
Vous	reculez	Vous reculez pour laisser passer les autres.	You step back to let others pass.
Ils	reculent	Ils reculent pour éviter la collision.	They back up to avoid collision.
Elles	reculent	Elles reculent devant le danger.	They retreat from danger.