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

Introduction to the verb surir

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The English translation of the French verb surir is “to sour.” It is pronounced “soo-reer.”

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Surir is a regular -ir verb and its infinitive form is surir. It comes from the Latin word “sūrēre,” meaning “to be acid.” In everyday French, surir is used to describe the process of something becoming sour, whether it be food, drinks, or relationships.

Examples:

Le lait a suri après avoir été laissé hors du réfrigérateur. (The milk soured after being left out of the fridge.)
Son visage a suri lorsqu’il a vu les résultats de l’examen. (Her face soured when she saw the exam results.)
Les raisins ont suri pendant la canicule. (The grapes soured during the heatwave.)

Surir – 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 surir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	sursis	Je sursis mon jugement.	I suspend my judgment.
tu	suris	Tu suris devant l’écran.	You squint at the screen.
il	surit	Il surit en silence.	He squints in silence.
elle	surit	Elle surit devant le soleil.	She squints in front of the sun.
on	surit	On surit pour lire le panneau.	We squint to read the sign.
nous	surissons	Nous surissons en cherchant.	We squint while looking.
vous	surissez	Vous surissez à cause de la lumière.	You squint because of the light.
ils	surissent	Ils surissent dans la pénombre.	They squint in the dim light.
elles	surissent	Elles surissent en regardant l’horizon.	They squint while looking at the horizon.