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

Introduction to the verb surfaire

Get the present tense conjugation of surfaire. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation for surfaire is “to overdo” or “to overcharge.” It is pronounced as “soor-fehr” in its infinitive form.

Table of Contents

The word surfaire comes from the French words “sur,” meaning “over,” and “faire,” meaning “to do.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe someone who is doing too much or going over the top in a certain situation.

Here are three simple examples of its usage:

Tu as surfait lors de la réunion. – You overdid it during the meeting.
La facture a été surfacturée. – The bill was overcharged.
Il ne faut pas surfaire les efforts. – Don’t overdo the efforts.

Surfaire – 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 surfaire

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	surfaire	Je surfaire trop souvent.	I overdo it too often.
Tu	surfais	Tu surfais plus souvent avant.	You used to surf more often before.
Il	surfaît	Il surfaît beaucoup ces derniers temps.	He has been surfing a lot lately.
Elle	surfait	Elle surfait avec ses amis hier.	She was surfing with her friends yesterday.
On	surfait	On surfait beaucoup à l’époque.	We used to surf a lot back then.
Nous	surfaisons	Nous surfaisons souvent ensemble.	We often surf together.
Vous	surfaisez	Vous surfaisez mieux que moi.	You surf better than me.
Ils	surfaisent	Ils surfaisent depuis leur enfance.	They have been surfing since childhood.
Elles	surfaissent	Elles surfaissent à chaque fois qu’elles ont l’occasion.	They surf every time they have the opportunity.