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

Introduction to the verb refréner

Get the present tense conjugation of refréner. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb refréner is “to restrain” or “to hold back”. It is pronounced as “ruh-FREH-ner”.

Table of Contents

The verb refréner comes from the Latin word “refrenare”, which means “to bridle” or “to control”. It is often used in everyday French to describe the act of controlling or holding back one’s emotions, desires, or impulses.

Example 1: Je dois refréner ma colère. (I must restrain my anger.)
Example 2: Il ne peut pas refréner son envie de manger du gâteau. (He can’t hold back his desire to eat cake.)
Example 3: Elle a du mal à refréner ses larmes. (She struggles to hold back her tears.)

Refréner – 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 refréner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je refrène	Je refrène mes envies de manger des bonbons.	I restrain my cravings for candy.
Tu	tu refrènes	Tu refrènes souvent tes émotions.	You often repress your emotions.
Il	il refrène	Il refrène sa colère pour éviter un conflit.	He holds back his anger to avoid a conflict.
Elle	elle refrène	Elle refrène ses larmes et reste forte.	She holds back her tears and stays strong.
On	on refrène	On refrène nos impulsions et on réfléchit avant d’agir.	We restrain our impulses and think before acting.
Nous	nous refrenons	Nous refrenons notre enthousiasme pour ne pas trop en dire.	We hold back our excitement to not say too much.
Vous	vous refrénez	Vous refrénez vos critiques pour ne pas blesser les autres.	You restrain your criticisms to not hurt others.
Ils	ils refrènent	Ils refrènent leur nervosité avant le match.	They hold back their nerves before the game.
Elles	elles refrènent	Elles refrènent leur impatience en attendant le bus.	They hold back their impatience while waiting for the bus.