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

Introduction to the verb sustenter

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The English translation of the French verb sustenter is “to sustain” or “to nourish.” It is pronounced as “soos-tawn-tay.”

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The word sustenter comes from the Latin word “sustentare,” meaning “to support” or “to sustain.” It is a regular -er verb and is most often used in everyday French to refer to providing food and nourishment to someone or something.

Examples:

Je dois sustenter ma famille avant de partir en vacances.
(I have to provide food for my family before leaving for vacation.)
La mère oiseau sustente ses petits avec des vers de terre.
(The mother bird nourishes her babies with worms.)
Les fermiers ont cultivé des légumes pour sustenter leur village pendant l’hiver.
(The farmers grew vegetables to sustain their village during the winter.)

Sustenter – 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 sustenter

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je sustente	Je me sustente avec un bon repas.	I sustain myself with a good meal.
Tu	tu sustentes	Tu te sustentes avec des fruits et des légumes.	You sustain yourself with fruits and vegetables.
Il	il sustente	Il se sustente avant de partir en randonnée.	He sustains himself before going on a hike.
Elle	elle sustente	Elle se sustente avec une boisson chaude.	She sustains herself with a hot drink.
On	on sustente	On se sustente en mangeant à la cantine.	We sustain ourselves by eating at the cafeteria.
Nous	nous sustentons	Nous nous sustentons en cuisinant ensemble.	We sustain ourselves by cooking together.
Vous	vous sustentez	Vous vous sustentez avant de commencer votre journée.	You sustain yourselves before starting your day.
Ils	ils sustentent	Ils se sustentent en partageant un repas en famille.	They sustain themselves by sharing a meal with their family.
Elles	elles sustentent	Elles se sustentent en prenant une pause pour manger.	They sustain themselves by taking a break to eat.