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

Introduction to the verb suborner

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The English translation of the French verb suborner is “to bribe” or “to suborn”. The infinitive form is pronounced as “soo-bohr-ney”.

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Suborner comes from the Latin word “subornare” which means “to bribe or induce secretly”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of bribing or corrupting someone to do something illegal or dishonest.

Examples:

Il a essayé de suborner le juge pour obtenir une sentence plus légère. (He tried to bribe the judge to get a lighter sentence.)
Les politiciens sont souvent accusés de suborner des électeurs pour obtenir leur vote. (Politicians are often accused of bribing voters to get their vote.)
Le directeur de l’entreprise a été arrêté pour avoir suborné des employés pour obtenir des contrats. (The director of the company was arrested for bribing employees to get contracts.)

Suborner – 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 suborner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	suborne	Je suborne mon témoin.	I suborn my witness.
tu	subornes	Tu subornes le juge.	You suborn the judge.
il	suborne	Il suborne le jury.	He suborns the jury.
elle	suborne	Elle suborne l’avocat.	She suborns the lawyer.
on	suborne	On suborne les témoins.	We suborn the witnesses.
nous	subornons	Nous subornons les jurés.	We suborn the jurors.
vous	subornez	Vous subornez le témoin.	You suborn the witness.
ils	subornent	Ils subornent le juge.	They suborn the judge.
elles	subornent	Elles subornent l’avocat.	They suborn the lawyer.