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

Introduction to the verb morfiler

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The English translation of the French verb morfiler is “to nibble” or “to gnaw”. Its infinitive form is pronounced “mohr-fee-lay”.

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Morfiler comes from the Old French word “morfiler” which means “to bite”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of biting or nibbling on something with small, repeated bites.

Examples of usage:

J’aime bien morfiler du pain en attendant que le repas soit prêt. (I like to nibble on bread while waiting for the meal to be ready.)
Le chien a morfilé le coin de la table avec ses dents. (The dog gnawed on the corner of the table with its teeth.)
Elle a commencé à morfiler ses ongles pendant la réunion. (She started to nibble on her nails during the meeting.)

Morfiler – 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 morfiler

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	Je morfile	Je morfile du pain.	I am cutting some bread.
Tu	Tu morfiles	Tu morfiles de la viande.	You are carving some meat.
Il	Il morfile	Il morfile un poulet.	He is carving a chicken.
Elle	Elle morfile	Elle morfile un poisson.	She is filleting a fish.
On	On morfile	On morfile des légumes.	One is slicing vegetables.
Nous	Nous morfilons	Nous morfilons des fruits.	We are slicing fruits.
Vous	Vous morfilez	Vous morfilez du fromage.	You are slicing some cheese.
Ils	Ils morfilent	Ils morfilent du pain.	They are cutting some bread.
Elles	Elles morfilent	Elles morfilent de la viande.	They are carving some meat.