Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb sous-traiter

Introduction to the verb sous-traiter

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The English translation of the French verb sous-traiter is “to subcontract.” It is pronounced as “soo-tra-ee-tay.”

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The word sous-traiter comes from the French words “sous” meaning “under” and “traiter” meaning “to treat.” It is used in everyday French to describe the practice of contracting work or services to another company or individual.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

Nous avons décidé de sous-traiter la gestion de notre comptabilité à une firme spécialisée. (We have decided to subcontract the management of our accounting to a specialized firm.)
L’entreprise a réduit ses coûts en sous-traitant la production de certains de ses produits à des usines étrangères. (The company reduced its costs by subcontracting the production of some of its products to foreign factories.)
Pour répondre à la demande croissante, le restaurant a décidé de sous-traiter la livraison des repas à un service de livraison à domicile. (To meet the growing demand, the restaurant decided to subcontract the delivery of meals to a home delivery service.)

Sous-Traiter – 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 sous-traiter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	sous-traite	Je sous-traite mes tâches.	I subcontract my tasks.
Tu	sous-traites	Tu sous-traites ton travail.	You subcontract your work.
Il	sous-traite	Il sous-traite sa production.	He subcontract his production.
Elle	sous-traite	Elle sous-traite ses projets.	She subcontract her projects.
On	sous-traite	On sous-traite notre service clientèle.	We subcontract our customer service.
Nous	sous-traitons	Nous sous-traitons notre fabrication.	We subcontract our manufacturing.
Vous	sous-traitez	Vous sous-traitez vos commandes.	You subcontract your orders.
Ils	sous-traitent	Ils sous-traitent leur logistique.	They subcontract their logistics.
Elles	sous-traitent	Elles sous-traitent leur comptabilité.	They subcontract their accounting.