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

Introduction to the verb surmonter

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The English translation of the French verb surmonter is “to overcome.” The infinitive form of surmonter is pronounced “sur-mohn-tay.”

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Surmonter comes from the Latin word “supermonere,” meaning “to advise, warn or overcome.” In every day French, it is most often used to describe the act of overcoming an obstacle, challenge, or difficulty.

Examples:

J’ai réussi à surmonter ma peur des hauteurs grâce à une thérapie. (I managed to overcome my fear of heights thanks to therapy.)
Il a dû surmonter de nombreux obstacles pour atteindre son but. (He had to overcome many obstacles to reach his goal.)
Ensemble, nous pouvons surmonter cette épreuve difficile. (Together, we can overcome this difficult ordeal.)

Surmonter – 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 surmonter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je surmonte	Je surmonte mes peurs.	I overcome my fears.
Tu	Tu surmontes	Tu surmontes cette épreuve.	You overcome this challenge.
Il	Il surmonte	Il surmonte les obstacles.	He overcomes obstacles.
Elle	Elle surmonte	Elle surmonte ses craintes.	She overcomes her fears.
On	On surmonte	On surmonte nos différences.	We overcome our differences.
Nous	Nous surmontons	Nous surmontons ensemble.	We overcome together.
Vous	Vous surmontez	Vous surmontez cette difficulté.	You (formal) overcome this difficulty.
Ils	Ils surmontent	Ils surmontent leurs problèmes.	They overcome their problems.
Elles	Elles surmontent	Elles surmontent tous les obstacles.	They overcome all the obstacles.