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

Introduction to the verb ruiner

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The English translation of the French verb ruiner is “to ruin.” It is pronounced “roo-ee-nay.”

Table of Contents

Ruiner comes from the Old French word “ruiner,” meaning “to collapse” or “to destroy.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of destroying or damaging something, either physically or financially.

Examples:

Je ne veux pas ruiner notre amitié en te disant la vérité. (I don’t want to ruin our friendship by telling you the truth.)
La tempête a complètement ruiné notre jardin. (The storm completely ruined our garden.)
Ses mauvaises décisions ont fini par ruiner son entreprise. (His bad decisions ended up ruining his business.)

Ruiner – 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 ruiner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Ruine	Je ruine	I ruin
Tu	Ruines	Tu ruines	You ruin
Il	Ruine	Il ruine	He ruins
Elle	Ruine	Elle ruine	She ruins
On	Ruine	On ruine	One ruins
Nous	Ruinons	Nous ruinons	We ruin
Vous	Ruinez	Vous ruinez	You ruin
Ils	Ruinent	Ils ruinent	They ruin
Elles	Ruinent	Elles ruinent	They ruin