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

Introduction to the verb plafonner

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The English translation of the French verb plafonner is “to ceiling” or “to limit.” It is pronounced as “plah-foh-nay.”

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Plafonner comes from the French word “plafond” which means “ceiling.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the context of setting a limit or ceiling on something, such as a budget or a maximum amount.

Here are three simple examples of plafonner in everyday French:

Je dois plafonner mes dépenses pour rester dans mon budget. (I have to limit my expenses to stay within my budget.)
Le gouvernement va plafonner les prix des produits de première nécessité. (The government will ceiling the prices of essential products.)
Nous avons plafonné le nombre d’invités à 50 pour éviter que la fête soit trop bondée. (We capped the number of guests at 50 to avoid the party being too crowded.)

Plafonner – 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 plafonner

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je plafonne	Je plafonne depuis des heures.	I am hitting a ceiling for hours.
Tu	tu plafonnes	Tu plafonnes à 100 euros par jour.	You hit a ceiling of 100 euros per day.
Il	il plafonne	Il plafonne à 50 ans.	He hits a ceiling at 50 years old.
Elle	elle plafonne	Elle plafonne au même niveau depuis des années.	She hits the same ceiling for years.
On	on plafonne	On plafonne à un taux de chômage élevé.	We hit a high unemployment rate.
Nous	nous plafonnons	Nous plafonnons à 5% de croissance.	We hit a growth ceiling of 5%.
Vous	vous plafonnez	Vous plafonnez à un niveau de compétences impressionnant.	You hit an impressive level of skills.
Ils	ils plafonnent	Ils plafonnent à un certain salaire.	They hit a certain salary ceiling.
Elles	elles plafonnent	Elles plafonnent au même nombre de likes.	They hit the same number of likes.