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

Introduction to the verb affouiller

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The English translation of the French verb “affouiller” is “to fray” or “to unravel” in English. The infinitive form of “affouiller” is pronounced as [a-foo-yey].

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The word “affouiller” originates from the Old French verb “foillier,” meaning “to fray” or “to wear out.” In everyday French, “affouiller” is most often used to describe the action of unraveling or fraying threads or fabric.

Here are three simple examples of its usage in French:

Ne tire pas trop sur ce fil, tu risques de l’affouiller.
(Don’t pull too hard on this thread, you might fray it.)
En lavant ce pull à la machine, il s’est affouillé.
(By washing this sweater in the machine, it unraveled.)
Les bords de cette nappe sont affouillés à force de l’utiliser.
(The edges of this tablecloth are frayed from frequent use.)

Affouiller – 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 affouiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’affouille	J’affouille le tissu.	I roughen the fabric.
tu	tu affouilles	Tu affouilles la terre.	You roughen the ground.
il	il affouille	Il affouille la pierre.	He roughens the stone.
elle	elle affouille	Elle affouille le bois.	She roughens the wood.
on	on affouille	On affouille le métal.	One roughens the metal.
nous	nous affouillons	Nous affouillons la surface.	We roughen the surface.
vous	vous affouillez	Vous affouillez le papier.	You roughen the paper.
ils	ils affouillent	Ils affouillent le sol.	They roughen the ground.
elles	elles affouillent	Elles affouillent le plastique.	They roughen the plastic.