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

Introduction to the verb tonsurer

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The English translation of the French verb tonsurer is “to tonsure.” It is pronounced as “toh-nyoo-zuh-ray.”

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The word “tonsurer” comes from the Latin word “tonsor,” meaning “barber.” It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the act of shaving or clipping the hair of a person, particularly in a religious context. It can also be used in a figurative sense to mean “to strip or remove something.”

Examples:

1) Les moines se font tonsurer la tête pour symboliser leur dévotion à Dieu. (The monks shave their heads to symbolize their devotion to God.)

2) Le nouveau pape a été tonsuré lors de sa cérémonie d’investiture. (The new pope was tonsured during his inauguration ceremony.)

3) Après des années de travail, l’entreprise a été tonsurée de tous ses actifs. (After years of work, the company was stripped of all its assets.)

Tonsurer – 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 tonsurer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	je tondu	Je tondu mes cheveux	I shave my hair
tu	tu tondes	Tu tondes souvent	You often shave
il	il tonde	Il tonde ses poils	He shaves his hair
elle	elle tonde	Elle tonde sa tête	She shaves her head
on	on tond	On tond les moutons	We shave the sheep
nous	nous tondons	Nous tondons nos barbes	We shave our beards
vous	vous tondez	Vous tondez votre pelouse	You mow your lawn
ils	ils tondent	Ils tondent leur chien	They shave their dog
elles	elles tondent	Elles tondent leurs jambes	They shave their legs