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

Introduction to the verb rétrocéder

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The English translation of the French verb rétrocéder is “to transfer back” or “to give back.” It is pronounced “ray-troh-say-day.”

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Rétrocéder comes from the combination of the prefix “retro-” meaning “back” and the verb “céder” meaning “to transfer.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of returning or giving back something that was previously owned or taken.

Examples:

Je vais rétrocéder cette voiture à son propriétaire d’origine. (I am going to transfer this car back to its original owner.)
Le gouvernement a décidé de rétrocéder le territoire à la communauté autochtone. (The government has decided to give back the territory to the indigenous community.)
Nous avons rétrocédé nos parts de l’entreprise à nos associés. (We transferred back our shares of the company to our partners.)

Rétrocéder – 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 rétrocéder

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	rétrocède	Je rétrocède mes droits à ma sœur.	I am transferring my rights to my sister.
Tu	rétrocèdes	Tu rétrocèdes tes biens à ta mère.	You are giving back your belongings to your mother.
Il	rétrocède	Il rétrocède la propriété à son frère.	He is ceding the property to his brother.
Elle	rétrocède	Elle rétrocède ses parts à son associé.	She is transferring her shares to her partner.
On	rétrocède	On rétrocède la maison à ses parents.	We are giving back the house to our parents.
Nous	rétrocédons	Nous rétrocédons les terres à la commune.	We are returning the lands to the municipality.
Vous	rétrocédez	Vous rétrocédez vos droits à votre conjoint.	You are surrendering your rights to your spouse.
Ils	rétrocèdent	Ils rétrocèdent les marchandises à leur fournisseur.	They are returning the goods to their supplier.
Elles	rétrocèdent	Elles rétrocèdent leur pouvoir à leur chef.	They are giving back their power to their leader.