Déterminons

Déterminons is the present indicative first-person plural form of the French verb déterminer, meaning to determine or to decide. In neutral statements it translates as we determine (Nous déterminons les critères). It can also function as the inclusive imperative “Let us determine,” used to suggest a joint action, as in Déterminons les paramètres du problème.

Morphology and origin: déterminer is a regular -er verb, with the present tense forms je détermine, tu détermines, il détermine, nous déterminons, vous déterminez, ils déterminent. The word is derived from Latin determinare, meaning to limit or to set boundaries. The form déterminons is identical in spelling for both the indicative and the imperative, so context and punctuation or prosody are needed to disambiguate.

Usage notes: Déterminons is a common construction in conversation, analysis, and instruction, often appearing in collaborative or problem-solving contexts. It should be distinguished from related forms such as déterminé (past participle/adjective, meaning determined), déterminant (noun meaning determinant or decisive factor, and in mathematics the determinant), and détermination (the act of determining). In mathematical or technical writing, care is taken to avoid confusion with the noun déterminant or with other inflected forms.

Examples:

- Déterminons les causes du problème. (Let us determine the causes of the problem.)

- Nous déterminons les paramètres requis. (We determine the required parameters.)

See also: déterminer, déterminé, déterminant, détermination.