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

Introduction to the verb ligner

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The English translation of the French verb ligner is “to line up” or “to put in a line.” It is pronounced as “lee-nyay” in its infinitive form.

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The word ligner comes from the French word “ligne,” meaning “line,” and ultimately from the Latin word “linea.”

In everyday French, ligner is most often used to describe the action of arranging objects or people in a straight line or row. It can also be used to describe the act of organizing or setting up things in a specific order.

Examples:

Nous devons ligner les chaises avant l’arrivée des invités. – We need to line up the chairs before the guests arrive.
Les soldats doivent ligner en rang avant le défilé. – The soldiers must line up in a row before the parade.
Il faut ligner les verres de la plus petite à la plus grande. – The glasses need to be arranged in order from smallest to largest.

Ligner – 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 ligner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	ligne	Je ligne tous les jours.	I line up every day.
Tu	lignes	Tu lignes à l’avance.	You line up in advance.
Il	ligne	Il ligne pour acheter des billets.	He lines up to buy tickets.
Elle	ligne	Elle ligne avec ses amis.	She lines up with her friends.
On	ligne	On ligne pour entrer dans le club.	We line up to enter the club.
Nous	lignons	Nous lignons pour obtenir des places assises.	We line up to get seats.
Vous	ligne	Vous ligne devant le cinéma.	You line up in front of the cinema.
Ils	lignent	Ils lignent pour prendre le bus.	They line up to catch the bus.
Elles	lignent	Elles lignent pour acheter des cadeaux.	They line up to buy gifts.