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

Introduction to the verb surprendre

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The English translation of surprendre is “to surprise.” It is pronounced as “seur-prahnd-ruh.”

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The origin of the word surprendre comes from the Old French word “sorprendre,” which means “to seize or capture by surprise.” In modern French, it is most often used in everyday conversation to describe the act of surprising someone or being surprised oneself.

Here are three simple examples of its usage in different contexts:

Je vais te surprendre avec mon cadeau d’anniversaire. (I’m going to surprise you with my birthday gift.)
La fin du film m’a vraiment surprise. (The ending of the movie really surprised me.)
Ne sois pas surpris si tu vois beaucoup de monde à la réunion. (Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of people at the meeting.)

Surprendre – 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 surprendre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Surprends	Je surprends	I surprise
Tu	Surprends	Tu surprends	You surprise
Il	Surprend	Il surprend	He surprises
Elle	Surprend	Elle surprend	She surprises
On	Surprend	On surprend	One surprises
Nous	Surprenons	Nous surprenons	We surprise
Vous	Surprenez	Vous surprenez	You surprise (formal)
Ils	Surprennent	Ils surprennent	They surprise
Elles	Surprennent	Elles surprennent	They surprise (feminine)