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

Introduction to the verb sortir

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The English translation of the French verb sortir is “to go out” or “to leave.” It is pronounced as “sor-teer.”

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The language origin of sortir can be traced back to the Latin word “sortire,” which means “to come out or to emerge.” In everyday French, sortir is used to indicate physical movement out of a place or situation.

Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Je vais sortir faire du shopping ce soir. (I am going out to do some shopping tonight.)
Est-ce que tu veux sortir avec moi ce weekend ? (Do you want to go out with me this weekend?)
Il est sorti du bureau en colère. (He stormed out of the office in anger.)

Sortir – 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 sortir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	sors	Je sors avec mes amis.	I am going out with my friends.
tu	sors	Tu sors ta voiture du garage.	You take your car out of the garage.
il	sort	Il sort un livre de son sac.	He takes a book out of his bag.
elle	sort	Elle sort ses clés de sa poche.	She takes her keys out of her pocket.
on	sort	On sort souvent au restaurant.	We often go out to eat.
nous	sortons	Nous sortons au parc chaque week-end.	We go out to the park every weekend.
vous	sortez	Vous sortez avec qui ce soir ?	Who are you going out with tonight?
ils	sortent	Ils sortent leur chien pour une promenade.	They take their dog out for a walk.
elles	sortent	Elles sortent leur parapluie.	They take out their umbrella.