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

Introduction to the verb pointiller

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The English translation of the French verb pointiller is “to dot” or “to stipple.” The infinitive form, pointiller, is pronounced “pwan-tee-yay.”

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The word pointiller comes from the French word “point,” meaning point or dot. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of making small dots or points on a surface, usually for artistic or decorative purposes.

Examples:

Elle a pointillé des étoiles sur le dessin. (She dotted stars on the drawing.)
Le peintre utilise une technique de pointillage pour créer des textures. (The painter is using a stippling technique to create textures.)
J’ai pointillé la carte pour marquer tous les endroits que nous avons visités. (I dotted the map to mark all the places we have visited.)

Pointiller – 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 pointiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	pointille	Je pointille mes dessins.	I dot my drawings.
Tu	pointilles	Tu pointilles le papier.	You dot the paper.
Il	pointille	Il pointille la carte.	He dots the map.
Elle	pointille	Elle pointille son agenda.	She dots her agenda.
On	pointille	On pointille les i.	We dot the i’s.
Nous	pointillons	Nous pointillons le chemin.	We dot the path.
Vous	pointillez	Vous pointillez les yeux.	You dot the eyes.
Ils	pointillent	Ils pointillent les lettres.	They dot the letters.
Elles	pointillent	Elles pointillent les vêtements.	They dot the clothes.