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

Introduction to the verb ricocher

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The English translation of the French verb ricocher is “to ricochet”. It is pronounced as “ree-koh-shey” in the infinitive form.

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The word ricocher comes from the Old French word “recoscher”, which means “to bounce back”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of a projectile bouncing off a surface.

Here are three simple examples of its usage with their English translations:

La pierre a ricoché sur l’eau plusieurs fois avant de couler. (The stone ricocheted on the water several times before sinking.)
La balle a ricoché sur le mur avant de frapper le joueur. (The ball ricocheted off the wall before hitting the player.)
Les balles ont ricoché sur le blindage du véhicule sans le percer. (The bullets ricocheted off the vehicle’s armor without piercing it.)

Ricocher – 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 ricocher

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je ricoche	Je ricoche sur l’eau.	I skip on the water.
Tu	tu ricoches	Tu ricoches sur la surface.	You skip on the surface.
Il	il ricoche	Il ricoche contre les rochers.	He skips against the rocks.
Elle	elle ricoche	Elle ricoche loin.	She skips far.
On	on ricoche	On ricoche avec les cailloux.	We/one skip with the pebbles.
Nous	nous ricochons	Nous ricochons sur la mer calme.	We skip on the calm sea.
Vous	vous ricochez	Vous ricochez sur le lac.	You skip on the lake.
Ils	ils ricochent	Ils ricochent sur les vaguelettes.	They skip on the small waves.
Elles	elles ricochent	Elles ricochent ensemble.	They skip together.