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

Introduction to the verb gribouiller

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The English translation of the French verb “gribouiller” is “to scribble”. The infinitive form of “gribouiller” is pronounced as [ɡʁi.bu.je].

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The word “gribouiller” originated from the Old French word “gribouillier”, which meant to paint or draw clumsily. In everyday French, it is commonly used to describe the act of doodling or scribbling quickly and haphazardly.

Examples:

Ne gribouille pas sur ton cahier pendant les cours.
(Do not scribble on your notebook during class.)
Les enfants ont gribouillé sur les murs avec des crayons de couleur.
(The children scribbled on the walls with colored pencils.)
J’ai gribouillé quelques idées avant de commencer à écrire mon essai.
(I scribbled some ideas before starting to write my essay.)

Gribouiller – 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 gribouiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	gribouille	Je gribouille sur une feuille de papier.	I scribble on a piece of paper.
tu	gribouilles	Tu gribouilles des dessins dans ton cahier.	You scribble drawings in your notebook.
il	gribouille	Il gribouille rapidement sans réfléchir.	He scribbles quickly without thinking.
elle	gribouille	Elle gribouille un mot en marge de son livre.	She scribbles a word in the margin of her book.
on	gribouille	On gribouille des notes pendant la réunion.	We scribble notes during the meeting.
nous	gribouillons	Nous gribouillons des idées sur un tableau blanc.	We scribble ideas on a whiteboard.
vous	gribouillez	Vous gribouillez un mot sur une carte postale.	You scribble a word on a postcard.
ils	gribouillent	Ils gribouillent des motifs sur une toile.	They scribble patterns on a canvas.
elles	gribouillent	Elles gribouillent des visages sur leur cahier.	They scribble faces in their notebook.