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

Introduction to the verb grappiller

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The English translation of the French verb “grappiller” is “to glean” or “to pick up scraps”. The infinitive form is pronounced as [gʁa.pi.je].

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The word “grappiller” originated from the Old French word “grapir”, meaning “to seize”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of gathering or collecting small or leftover things, often in a metaphorical sense.

Il aime grappiller des informations ici et là.
(He likes to gather information here and there.)
Elle grappille quelques minutes de sommeil entre les réunions.
(She grabs a few minutes of sleep between meetings.)
Nous devons grappiller des points pour remonter au classement.
(We need to pick up some points to climb up in the rankings.)

Grappiller – 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 grappiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	grappille	Je grappille quelques raisins dans le jardin.	I pick a few grapes in the garden.
Tu	grappilles	Tu grappilles des informations sur internet.	You gather information on the internet.
Il	grappille	Il grappille des morceaux de pain lors du repas.	He picks at pieces of bread during the meal.
Elle	grappille	Elle grappille quelques minutes de sommeil le matin.	She snatches a few minutes of sleep in the morning.
On	grappille	On grappille des idées pour notre projet.	We gather ideas for our project.
Nous	grappillons	Nous grappillons des fruits dans le verger.	We pick fruits in the orchard.
Vous	grappillez	Vous grappillez des bonbons dans le placard.	You pick at candies in the cupboard.
Ils	grappillent	Ils grappillent des données pour leur recherche.	They gather data for their research.
Elles	grappillent	Elles grappillent des fleurs dans le jardin.	They pick flowers in the garden.