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

Introduction to the verb subordonner

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The English translation of the French verb subordonner is “to subordinate.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “soo-bohr-doh-nay.”

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The language origin of subordonner comes from the Latin word “subordinare,” which means “to place under.” In everyday French, it is most often used to express the idea of putting something or someone under someone else’s authority or control.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

Je dois subordonner mes désirs à ceux de mon patron. (I have to subordinate my desires to those of my boss.)
Les besoins de l’équipe doivent être subordonnés aux objectifs de l’entreprise. (The team’s needs must be subordinated to the company’s objectives.)
La sécurité des citoyens est subordonnée à la loi. (The safety of citizens is subordinated to the law.)

Subordonner – 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 subordonner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	subordonne	Je subordonne cette tâche à plus tard.	I subordinate this task for later.
Tu	subordonnes	Tu subordonnes toujours tes désirs aux autres.	You always subordinate your desires to others.
Il	subordonne	Il subordonne ses décisions à celles de son patron.	He subordinates his decisions to those of his boss.
Elle	subordonne	Elle subordonne sa réussite à celle de son mari.	She subordinates her success to that of her husband.
On	subordonne	On subordonne souvent les droits humains à des intérêts économiques.	We often subordinate human rights to economic interests.
Nous	subordonnons	Nous subordonnons nos actions aux règles établies.	We subordinate our actions to established rules.
Vous	subordonnez	Vous subordonnez votre bonheur à celui des autres.	You subordinate your happiness to that of others.
Ils	subordonnent	Ils subordonnent leur liberté à des règles strictes.	They subordinate their freedom to strict rules.
Elles	subordonnent	Elles subordonnent leur bien-être à celui de leur famille.	They subordinate their well-being to that of their family.