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

Introduction to the verb fourmiller

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The English translation of the French verb “fourmiller” is “to teem” or “to swarm.” The infinitive form “fourmiller” is pronounced as [fur-mee-ye].

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The word “fourmiller” comes from the noun “fourmi” which means “ant” in English. It is most often used in everyday French to describe a large number of people or things moving quickly and restlessly in a confined space.

Examples:

Le marché était bondé, les rues fourmillaient de monde. (The market was crowded, the streets teemed with people.)
La plage était tellement pleine qu’elle fourmillait de vacanciers. (The beach was so full that it swarmed with vacationers.)
Les idées lui fourmillaient dans la tête et il ne savait pas par où commencer. (Ideas teemed in his mind, and he didn’t know where to start.)

Note: The pronunciation guide is written in a simplified phonetic form.

Fourmiller – 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 fourmiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	fourmille	Je fourmille	I teem
Tu	fourmilles	Tu fourmilles	You teem
Il	fourmille	Il fourmille	He teems
Elle	fourmille	Elle fourmille	She teems
On	fourmille	On fourmille	One teems
Nous	fourmillons	Nous fourmillons	We teem
Vous	fourmillez	Vous fourmillez	You teem
Ils	fourmillent	Ils fourmillent	They teem
Elles	fourmillent	Elles fourmillent	They teem