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

Introduction to the verb sévir

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The English translation of the French verb sévir is “to prevail” or “to take effect.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “say-veer.”

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Sévir originates from the Latin word “severus” meaning “serious” or “severe.” In French, it is most commonly used in its reflexive form, “se sévir,” which means “to take action” or “to act strongly.”

Example 1: La loi doit sévir contre les criminels. (The law must take action against criminals.)

Example 2: La tempête sévira demain soir. (The storm will take effect tomorrow evening.)

Example 3: Les parents doivent se sévir pour discipliner leurs enfants. (Parents must take action to discipline their children.)

Sévir – 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 sévir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je sévis	Je sévis souvent contre les mauvais comportements.	I often crack down on bad behavior.
Tu	tu sévis	Tu sévis trop strictement parfois.	You sometimes enforce too strictly.
Il	il sévit	Il sévit avec fermeté contre toute forme de violence.	He firmly cracks down on any form of violence.
Elle	elle sévit	Elle sévit sans hésiter contre les fraudeurs.	She doesn’t hesitate to crack down on fraudsters.
On	on sévit	On sévit pour maintenir l’ordre dans la société.	One cracks down to maintain order in society.
Nous	nous sévissons	Nous sévissons pour faire respecter les règles.	We crack down to enforce the rules.
Vous	vous sévissez	Vous sévissez contre les mauvais comportements.	You crack down on bad behavior.
Ils	ils sévissent	Ils sévissent sans pitié contre les criminels.	They mercilessly crack down on criminals.
Elles	elles sévissent	Elles sévissent pour protéger les droits des citoyens.	They crack down to protect citizens’ rights.