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

Introduction to the verb vider

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The English translation of the French verb vider is “to empty” or “to clear out.” It is pronounced as “vee-dey” in the infinitive form.

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The word vider comes from the Latin word “videre” which means “to see.” In everyday French, it is most often used to refer to physically emptying or clearing out something, such as a container or a space.

Examples:

Je dois vider mon sac à dos avant de partir en voyage. (I have to empty my backpack before leaving on a trip.)
Nous avons dû vider la maison de notre grand-mère après son décès. (We had to clear out our grandmother’s house after her passing.)
Il faut vider les poubelles avant que les ordures ne débordent. (We need to empty the trash bins before they overflow.)

These examples can be translated to English as:

I have to empty my backpack before leaving on a trip.
We had to clear out our grandmother’s house after her passing.
We need to empty the trash bins before they overflow.

Vider – 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 vider

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je vide Je vide mon sac. I empty my bag.
tu vides Tu vides la poubelle. You empty the trash.
il vide Il vide les tiroirs. He empties the drawers.
elle vide Elle vide la baignoire. She empties the bathtub.
on vide On vide les étagères. We empty the shelves.
nous vidons Nous vidons le placard. We empty the closet.
vous videz Vous videz le frigo. You empty the fridge.
ils vident Ils vident leur sac. They empty their bag.
elles vident Elles vident la cave. They empty the basement.