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

Introduction to the verb tercer

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The English translation of the French verb tercer is “to be ranked third”. It is pronounced “teh-sair” in its infinitive form.

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Tercer originates from the Latin word “tertius” meaning “third”. In French, it is most often used in everyday language to describe ranking or positioning in a list or hierarchy.

Examples:

Notre équipe a terminé en troisième position dans le tournoi. (Our team finished in third place in the tournament.)
Le film a été classé troisième au box-office ce week-end. (The movie was ranked third at the box-office this weekend.)
Le joueur de football est considéré comme le troisième meilleur du monde. (The football player is considered the third best in the world.)

Tercer – 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 tercer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je terce	Je terce souvent.	I often third.
Tu	tu terces	Tu terces avec moi.	You third with me.
Il	il terce	Il terce à la fête.	He thirds at the party.
Elle	elle terce	Elle terce en secret.	She thirds in secret.
On	on terce	On terce pour gagner.	We third to win.
Nous	nous terçons	Nous terçons ensemble.	We third together.
Vous	vous tercez	Vous tercez rapidement.	You third quickly.
Ils	ils tercent	Ils tercent pour s’amuser.	They third for fun.
Elles	elles tercent	Elles tercent bien.	They third well.