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

Introduction to the verb suivre

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The English translation of suivre is “to follow.” It is pronounced “swee-vruh.”

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Suivre is derived from the Latin word “sequi,” meaning “to follow.” In everyday French, suivre is used in various contexts, such as following someone’s lead, following a course of action, or physically following someone or something.

Examples:

Je vais suivre tes conseils. (I will follow your advice.)
Nous devons suivre cette route jusqu’au bout. (We have to follow this road to the end.)
Les oiseaux suivent le bateau. (The birds are following the boat.)

Suivre – 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 suivre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Suis	Je suis en train de suivre un régime	I am currently following a diet
Tu	Suis	Tu suis toujours tes rêves	You always follow your dreams
Il	Suit	Il suit toujours les règles	He always follows the rules
Elle	Suit	Elle suit ses instincts	She follows her instincts
On	Suit	On suit le même chemin	We are following the same path
Nous	Suivons	Nous suivons les instructions	We are following the instructions
Vous	Suivez	Vous suivez le mouvement	You are following the crowd
Ils	Suivent	Ils suivent leur propre chemin	They are following their own path
Elles	Suivent	Elles suivent les tendances	They are following the trends