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

Introduction to the verb bidouiller

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The English translation of the French verb “bidouiller” is “to tinker” or “to fiddle with.” The infinitive form “bidouiller” is pronounced as “bee-doo-yea.”

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The word “bidouiller” originates from the French slang “bidouille,” meaning a makeshift or improvised solution. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of making small adjustments, fixing or modifying something, or doing a quick repair in a creative or unorthodox way.

Examples:

Je vais bidouiller ma vieille voiture pour la faire fonctionner. (I will tinker with my old car to make it work.)
Il adore bidouiller les appareils électroniques pour les améliorer. (He loves fiddling with electronic devices to improve them.)
On a bidouillé le système de son pour obtenir un meilleur son. (We tinkered with the sound system to get better audio.)

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Bidouiller – 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 bidouiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	bidouille	Je bidouille mon ordinateur.	I tinker with my computer.
Tu	bidouilles	Tu bidouilles ta voiture.	You tinker with your car.
Il	bidouille	Il bidouille son appareil photo.	He tinkers with his camera.
Elle	bidouille	Elle bidouille sa télévision.	She tinkers with her television.
On	bidouille	On bidouille nos vélos.	We tinker with our bikes.
Nous	bidouillons	Nous bidouillons nos recettes.	We tinker with our recipes.
Vous	bidouillez	Vous bidouillez votre téléphone.	You tinker with your phone.
Ils	bidouillent	Ils bidouillent leurs instruments de musique.	They tinker with their musical instruments.
Elles	bidouillent	Elles bidouillent leurs ordinateurs portables.	They tinker with their laptops.