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

Introduction to the verb plucher

Get the present tense conjugation of plucher. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb “plucher” is “to peel” or “to skin”. It is pronounced as “plew-shay”.

Table of Contents

The origin of the word “plucher” comes from the Latin word “pilare” meaning “to strip or remove hair”. In everyday French, it is most often used in cooking or when referring to removing the outer layer of fruits or vegetables.

Examples:

Je dois plucher les pommes avant de les couper en morceaux. (I have to peel the apples before cutting them into pieces.)
Le chef a demandé à son assistant de plucher les carottes pour la soupe. (The chef asked his assistant to peel the carrots for the soup.)
Elle a les doigts abîmés à force de plucher les légumes tous les jours. (Her fingers are damaged from peeling vegetables every day.)

Plucher – 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 plucher

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je pluche	Je pluche un fruit	I peel a fruit
Tu	tu pluches	Tu pluches des pommes	You peel apples
Il	il pluche	Il pluche une carotte	He peels a carrot
Elle	elle pluche	Elle pluche des légumes	She peels vegetables
On	on pluche	On pluche une banane	One peels a banana
Nous	nous pluchons	Nous pluchons des patates	We peel potatoes
Vous	vous pluchez	Vous pluchez des oranges	You (plural/formal) peel oranges
Ils	ils pluchent	Ils pluchent des oignons	They (masculine) peel onions
Elles	elles pluchent	Elles pluchent des poivrons	They (feminine) peel peppers