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

Introduction to the verb travailler

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The English translation of the French verb travailler is “to work.” It is pronounced “tra-vai-yay” in its infinitive form.

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The word travailler comes from the Latin word “tripaliare,” meaning “to torture.” In everyday French, it is most often used to refer to any kind of work or activity, whether it is related to a job or not.

Examples:

Je travaille comme enseignant. (I work as a teacher.)
Elle a travaillé toute la nuit sur son projet. (She worked all night on her project.)
Nous travaillons dur pour obtenir de bons résultats. (We are working hard to get good results.)

Travailler – 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 travailler

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	travaille	Je travaille tous les jours.	I work every day.
tu	travailles	Tu travailles beaucoup.	You work a lot.
il	travaille	Il travaille à l’hôpital.	He works at the hospital.
elle	travaille	Elle travaille dans un bureau.	She works in an office.
on	travaille	On travaille ensemble.	We work together.
nous	travaillons	Nous travaillons dur.	We work hard.
vous	travaillez	Vous travaillez tard.	You work late.
ils	travaillent	Ils travaillent en équipe.	They work as a team.
elles	travaillent	Elles travaillent dans un restaurant.	They work in a restaurant.