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

Introduction to the verb sursauter

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The English translation of the French verb sursauter is “to startle” or “to jump”. The infinitive form is pronounced as “sur-so-tey”.

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Sursauter comes from the combination of the prefix “sur-” meaning “over” or “above” and the verb “sauter” meaning “to jump”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe a sudden, involuntary physical reaction to a surprise or shock.

Examples:

J’ai sursauté quand il a crié derrière moi. (I jumped/startled when he yelled behind me.)
Le bruit de la porte qui claque m’a fait sursauter. (The sound of the door slamming startled me.)
Les enfants ont sursauté en voyant une araignée sur le mur. (The children jumped when they saw a spider on the wall.)

Sursauter – 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 sursauter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	sursaute	Je sursaute souvent en regardant des films d’horreur.	I often startle while watching horror movies.
tu	sursautes	Tu sursautes dès que quelque chose te surprend.	You startle as soon as something surprises you.
il	sursaute	Il sursaute brusquement à cause du coup de tonnerre.	He startles suddenly because of the thunderclap.
elle	sursaute	Elle sursaute en voyant un insecte dans sa chambre.	She startles when she sees a bug in her room.
on	sursaute	On sursaute facilement quand on entend un bruit inattendu.	One startles easily when hearing an unexpected noise.
nous	sursautons	Nous sursautons toujours lors des feux d’artifice.	We always startle during fireworks.
vous	sursautez	Vous sursautez chaque fois que le téléphone sonne.	You startle every time the phone rings.
ils	sursautent	Ils sursautent en voyant un chat noir traverser leur chemin.	They startle when they see a black cat crossing their path.
elles	sursautent	Elles sursautent de peur en regardant un film d’épouvante.	They startle in fear while watching a horror movie.