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

Introduction to the verb retrouver

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The English translation of retrouver is “to find again” or “to meet again”. It is pronounced as “ruh-truh-vay”.

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Retrouver comes from the French word “re-” meaning “again” and “trouver” meaning “to find”. It is most often used in everyday French to refer to finding something or someone that was previously lost or to meet someone again after a period of time.

Examples:

Je suis tellement heureux de te retrouver après toutes ces années. (I’m so happy to meet you again after all these years.)
J’ai enfin retrouvé mes clés ! (I finally found my keys!)
Nous allons retrouver nos amis au parc demain. (We are going to meet our friends at the park tomorrow.)

Retrouver – 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 retrouver

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	retrouve	Je retrouve mon livre.	I find my book.
tu	retrouves	Tu retrouves tes clés.	You find your keys.
il	retrouve	Il retrouve son chemin.	He finds his way.
elle	retrouve	Elle retrouve son amie.	She finds her friend.
on	retrouve	On retrouve notre restaurant préféré.	We find our favorite restaurant.
nous	retrouvons	Nous nous retrouvons souvent ici.	We often meet here.
vous	retrouvez	Vous retrouvez votre parapluie.	You find your umbrella.
ils	retrouvent	Ils retrouvent leur voiture.	They find their car.
elles	retrouvent	Elles retrouvent leur chat.	They find their cat.