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

Introduction to the verb rétracter

Get the present tense conjugation of rétracter. 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 rétracter is “to retract” and it is pronounced as “ray-trak-TAY”.

Table of Contents

Rétracter comes from the Latin word “retractare” meaning “to withdraw” or “to draw back”. It is commonly used in everyday French when someone wants to take back or withdraw something they have previously stated or done.

Examples:

Il a dû rétracter ses accusations car il s’est rendu compte qu’elles étaient fausses.
(He had to retract his accusations as he realized they were false.)
Je regrette mes propos, je veux les rétracter.
(I regret my words, I want to retract them.)
Le magazine a dû rétracter son article après avoir reçu des menaces de poursuites judiciaires.
(The magazine had to retract its article after receiving threats of legal action.)

Rétracter – 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 rétracter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	me rétracte	Je me rétracte souvent	I often retract myself
tu	te rétractes	Tu te rétractes sans cesse	You constantly retract yourself
il	se rétracte	Il se rétracte parfois	He sometimes retracts himself
elle	se rétracte	Elle se rétracte rarement	She rarely retracts herself
on	se rétracte	On se rétracte ensemble	We retract ourselves together
nous	nous rétractons	Nous nous rétractons facilement	We retract ourselves easily
vous	vous rétractez	Vous vous rétractez rapidement	You retract yourselves quickly
ils	se rétractent	Ils se rétractent volontiers	They retract themselves willingly
elles	se rétractent	Elles se rétractent gentiment	They retract themselves kindly