prétendra

Prétendra is the third-person singular form of the French verb prétendre in the future simple tense. It means that someone will claim something to be the case, or will pretend to do something, at a point in the future. The verb prétendre itself has senses related to asserting a claim as true, or feigning an action or attribute.

Etymology and forms: Prétendre comes from Old French pretendre and ultimately from Latin praetendere, from prae- ‘before’ and tendere ‘to stretch’ (literally “to stretch forth”). The form prétendra is used with il/elle to indicate future action. Related forms include je prétendrai, tu prétendras, nous prétendrons, vous prétendrez, ils prétendront, as well as the infinitive prétendre and the past participle prétendu.

Usage and nuance: Prétendre commonly signals that a person will assert something, often implying that the claim may be uncertain or debatable. It can also express feigning or pretense in certain contexts. In standard construction, a claim introduced with prétendra is followed by a clause in the indicative: il prétendra que les rapports sont fiables. It can also be followed by an infinitive: il prétendra avoir terminé le travail, or prétendre faire quelque chose. Distinctions with synonyms vary: affirmer is a stronger, more direct assertion; faire semblant emphasizes feigning rather than a real claim.

See also: prétendu (past participle), prétention (claim, pretension), prétendre que + indicatif.

Examples: Demain, il prétendra avoir été sur les lieux. Elle prétendra être médecin, mais les faits diront le contraire.