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

Introduction to the verb soupçonner

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The English translation of the French verb soupçonner is “to suspect.” It is pronounced as “soo-pson-ay.”

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The word soupçonner comes from the French word soupçon, meaning “suspicion” or “hint.” It is most often used in everyday French to express doubt or suspicion about someone or something.

Examples:

Je soupçonne qu’il me ment. (I suspect he is lying to me.)
Les voisins soupçonnent le nouveau voisin d’être un criminel. (The neighbors suspect the new neighbor to be a criminal.)
Les policiers soupçonnent le mari de la victime d’être le meurtrier. (The police suspect the victim’s husband to be the murderer.)

Soupçonner – 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 soupçonner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	soupçonne	Je soupçonne mes voisins d’être bruyants.	I suspect my neighbors are noisy.
tu	soupçonnes	Tu soupçonnes qui a volé ton vélo ?	Do you suspect who stole your bike?
il	soupçonne	Il soupçonne son collègue de tricher.	He suspects his colleague of cheating.
elle	soupçonne	Elle soupçonne qu’il lui ment.	She suspects he’s lying to her.
on	soupçonne	On soupçonne que le gouvernement cache quelque chose.	We suspect that the government is hiding something.
nous	soupçonnons	Nous soupçonnons une fraude.	We suspect fraud.
vous	soupçonnez	Vous soupçonnez leur implication.	You suspect their involvement.
ils	soupçonnent	Ils soupçonnent leur professeur d’être sévère.	They suspect their teacher to be strict.
elles	soupçonnent	Elles soupçonnent un complot.	They suspect a plot.