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

Introduction to the verb surmener

Get the present tense conjugation of surmener. 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 of the French verb surmener is “to overwork” or “to tire out.” It is pronounced as “sir-muh-nay.”

Table of Contents

Surmener comes from the French word “mener,” which means “to lead.” Its prefix “sur” means “over,” and together they create a word that literally translates to “to lead over,” or to overwork.

In everyday French, surmener is most often used to describe a state of extreme exhaustion caused by excessive work or physical activity. It can also refer to overburdening someone with tasks or responsibilities.

Three simple examples of its usage are:

Je me suis surmené cette semaine avec tous mes projets. (I overworked myself this week with all my projects.)
Les parents ne devraient pas surmener leurs enfants avec trop d’activités. (Parents should not tire out their children with too many activities.)
Le chef surmène souvent ses employés avec des heures supplémentaires. (The boss often overworks his employees with overtime hours.)

Surmener – 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 surmener

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	surmène	Je me surmène avec trop de travail.	I overwork myself with too much work.
tu	surmènes	Tu te surmènes avec tes études.	You overwork yourself with your studies.
il/elle	surmène	Elle se surmène pour réussir.	She overworks herself to succeed.
on	surmène	On se surmène au travail.	We overwork ourselves at work.
nous	surmenons	Nous nous surmenons pour finir à temps.	We overwork ourselves to finish on time.
vous	surmenez	Vous vous surmenez avec toutes vos responsabilités.	You overwork yourself with all your responsibilities.
ils/elles	surmènent	Ils se surmènent pour gagner plus d’argent.	They overwork themselves to make more money.