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

Introduction to the verb stopper

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The English translation of the French verb stopper is “to stop.” It is pronounced as “stoh-pey” in its infinitive form.

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Stopper comes from the Old French verb “estoper,” which means “to close or plug.” In everyday French, it is most often used to refer to physically stopping or blocking something from moving. It can also be used figuratively to mean to put an end to something or to prevent something from happening.

Examples:

Je vais stopper le ballon avec mon pied. (I am going to stop the ball with my foot.)
Il faut stopper la circulation pour la manifestation. (We need to stop traffic for the protest.)
Le gouvernement a stoppé le projet de loi controversé. (The government stopped the controversial bill.)

Stopper – 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 stopper

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’arrête	J’arrête le train.	I stop the train.
tu	tu arrêtes	Tu arrêtes de parler.	You stop talking.
il	il arrête	Il arrête la voiture.	He stops the car.
elle	elle arrête	Elle arrête de fumer.	She stops smoking.
on	on arrête	On arrête le bruit.	We/They/People stop the noise.
nous	nous arrêtons	Nous arrêtons la fête.	We stop the party.
vous	vous arrêtez	Vous arrêtez de travailler.	You stop working.
ils	ils arrêtent	Ils arrêtent de regarder.	They stop watching.
elles	elles arrêtent	Elles arrêtent de jouer.	They stop playing.