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

Introduction to the verb affleurer

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The English translation of the French verb “affleurer” is “to skim” or “to touch lightly”. The infinitive form is pronounced as [a.flœ.ʁe].

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The word “affleurer” comes from the Old French word “florer” meaning “to bloom”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of lightly touching or skimming the surface of something.

Examples:

Les nuages affleurent à peine le sommet de la montagne. (The clouds barely skim the top of the mountain.)
En passant sa main sur la table, il fait affleurer la poussière. (By running his hand over the table, he skims off the dust.)
Les souvenirs affleurent dans son esprit. (Memories come to the surface in his mind.)

Affleurer – 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 affleurer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’affleure	J’affleure la surface de l’eau.	I skim the surface of the water.
tu	tu affleures	Tu affleures la table avec ta main.	You skim the table with your hand.
il	il affleure	Il affleure à la surface de la peau.	He skims the surface of the skin.
elle	elle affleure	Elle affleure les contours du paysage.	She skims the contours of the landscape.
on	on affleure	On affleure le sol avec les doigts.	One skims the ground with fingers.
nous	nous affleurons	Nous affleurons la surface du mur.	We skim the surface of the wall.
vous	vous affleurez	Vous affleurez la roche avec précaution.	You skim the rock carefully.
ils	ils affleurent	Ils affleurent la peinture avec un pinceau.	They skim the paint with a brush.
elles	elles affleurent	Elles affleurent les mots à voix basse.	They skim the words softly.