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

Introduction to the verb retarder

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The English translation of the French verb retarder is “to delay” or “to postpone”. It is pronounced reh-tahr-deh.

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Retarder comes from the Latin word “retardare” meaning “to delay”. It is most often used in everyday French to refer to delaying or postponing an action or event.

Examples:

Je dois retarder mon voyage en raison d’une urgence familiale. (I have to delay my trip due to a family emergency.)
Le train a été retardé de deux heures en raison des intempéries. (The train was delayed by two hours due to bad weather.)
Nous avons décidé de retarder notre mariage à l’année prochaine. (We have decided to postpone our wedding until next year.)

Retarder – 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 retarder

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je retarde	Je retarde mon départ.	I delay my departure.
Tu	Tu retardes	Tu retardes le projet.	You delay the project.
Il	Il retarde	Il retarde son réveil.	He delays his alarm.
Elle	Elle retarde	Elle retarde le rendez-vous.	She delays the appointment.
On	On retarde	On retarde la réunion.	One delays the meeting.
Nous	Nous retardons	Nous retardons le train.	We delay the train.
Vous	Vous retardez	Vous retardez votre réponse.	You delay your response.
Ils	Ils retardent	Ils retardent le vol.	They delay the flight.
Elles	Elles retardent	Elles retardent la livraison.	They delay the delivery.