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

Introduction to the verb sniffer

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The English translation of the French verb “sniffer” is “to sniff”. The infinitive form is pronounced as “snee-fay”.

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The word “sniffer” comes from the Old French verb “esniffler” which meant “to sniff”. It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the action of inhaling air through the nose to detect a certain smell or scent.

Examples:

Je vais te montrer comment sniffer le vin pour en apprécier l’arôme. (I will show you how to sniff the wine to appreciate its aroma.)
Le chien a utilisé son flair pour sniffer la présence de nourriture dans la pièce. (The dog used its sense of smell to sniff out the presence of food in the room.)
Les enfants ont snifflé le parfum de la fleur avec curiosité. (The children sniffed the flower’s scent with curiosity.)

Sniffer – 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 sniffer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je sniff	Je sniff souvent des fleurs.	I often sniff flowers.
tu	tu sniffes	Tu sniffes le parfum avant de l’acheter.	You sniff the perfume before buying it.
il	il sniffe	Il sniffe l’air pour détecter une odeur suspecte.	He sniffs the air to detect a suspicious smell.
elle	elle sniffe	Elle sniffe des épices pour choisir la meilleure.	She sniffs spices to choose the best one.
on	on sniff	On sniff les aliments avant de les manger.	We sniff our food before eating it.
nous	nous sniffons	Nous sniffons les fleurs pour en apprécier l’odeur.	We sniff flowers to appreciate their smell.
vous	vous sniffez	Vous sniffez le vin pour en reconnaître le cépage.	You sniff the wine to recognize the grape.
ils	ils sniffent	Ils sniffent de la cocaïne pour se droguer.	They sniff cocaine to get high.
elles	elles sniffent	Elles sniffent du tabac pour se détendre.	They sniff tobacco to relax.