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

Introduction to the verb tondre

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The English translation of the French verb tondre is “to mow/trim/shear”. It is pronounced “tawn-druh” in its infinitive form.

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The language origin of tondre can be traced back to the Latin word “tondere” which also means “to shear/mow”. In everyday French, tondre is used to describe the action of cutting grass or hair, but it can also be used figuratively to mean “to fleece/exploit” someone.

Examples:

Il faut tondre la pelouse avant que la pluie arrive. (The lawn needs to be mowed before the rain comes.)
Mon coiffeur me fait toujours tondre plus court que je ne le demande. (My hairdresser always ends up cutting my hair shorter than I ask for.)
Les habitants du village ont été tondu par le maire corrompu. (The villagers were fleeced by the corrupt mayor.)

Tondre – 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 tondre

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je tonds	Je tonds la pelouse.	I am mowing the lawn.
Tu	Tu tonds	Tu tonds ta barbe.	You are trimming your beard.
Il	Il tond	Il tond sa tête.	He is shaving his head.
Elle	Elle tond	Elle tond sa laine.	She is shearing her wool.
On	On tond	On tond les moutons.	We are shearing the sheep.
Nous	Nous tondons	Nous tondons le gazon.	We are cutting the grass.
Vous	Vous tondez	Vous tondez les haies.	You are trimming the hedges.
Ils	Ils tondent	Ils tondent le terrain.	They are mowing the field.
Elles	Elles tondent	Elles tondent les cheveux.	They are cutting their hair.