Couvrent

Couvrent is the third-person plural present indicative form of the French verb couvrir, meaning to cover, to shield, or to extend over. It is used with subjects in the plural to indicate that they perform the action of covering at the present time. The infinitive is couvrir, and the form couvre is used for the first-person singular and other singular subjects.

Etymology and usage notes: couvrir derives from Old French covrir, from a Latin root related to operire, meaning to cover or to hide. In modern French, couvrir is used in a wide range of senses, including physical covering (a roof, a blanket), protection (insurance or guarantees), and figurative meanings such as reporting on an event (to cover a story) or covering ground in a map or field.

Conjugation overview (present indicative): je couvre, tu couvres, il couvre, nous couvrons, vous couvrez, ils couvrent. The past participle is couvert, used with auxiliary être or avoir in compound tenses (j’ai couvert, elle a couvert). The form couvrent appears specifically with ils/elles in the present tense.

Common usages:

- Physical covering: Ils couvrent le mur avec du plâtre.

- Insurance or financial coverage: Les assurances couvrent les dépenses médicaux.

- Reporting: La journaliste couvre l’assemblée nationale.

Examples: Ils couvrent les frais de déplacement. La compagnie d’assurance couvre les dommages. Le journaliste couvre l’événement en directo.

See also: couvrir, couverture, couvert, couverture médiatique.

In summary, couvrent is a key present-tense form of couvrir, used broadly to denote that a plural subject is performing the act of covering in various literal or figurative contexts.