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

Introduction to the verb relater

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The English translation of the French verb relater is “to relate” or “to tell”. It is pronounced as “ruh-lah-teh”.

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The word relater comes from the French word “relater” which is derived from the Latin word “relātus” meaning “to carry back” or “to bring back”. In everyday French, relater is most often used in the context of storytelling or describing past events.

Examples:

Je vais te relater mon voyage en Inde. (I will tell you about my trip to India.)
Il a bien su relater les faits de l’accident. (He was able to recount the details of the accident well.)
Elle a l’art de relater des histoires captivantes. (She has a talent for telling captivating stories.)

Relater – 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 relater

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	relate	Je relate	I relate
Tu	relates	Tu relates	You relate
Il	relate	Il relate	He relates
Elle	relate	Elle relate	She relates
On	relate	On relate	One relates
Nous	relasons	Nous relasons	We relate
Vous	relatez	Vous relatez	You relate
Ils	relatent	Ils relatent	They relate
Elles	relatent	Elles relatent	They relate