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

Introduction to the verb quiller

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The English translation of the French verb quiller is “to wind” or “to spin”. It is pronounced as “kee-yay” in its infinitive form.

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Quiller comes from the Old French word “quille”, meaning “spindle”. It is most often used in every day French to refer to the action of winding or spinning a thread or yarn. It can also be used in a figurative sense to mean “to twist” or “to turn”.

Examples:

Je vais quiller cette laine pour en faire un écheveau. (I am going to wind this wool into a skein.)
Il a quillé son histoire pour la rendre plus intéressante. (He twisted his story to make it more interesting.)
Elle a quillé ses cheveux pour une soirée spéciale. (She curled her hair for a special evening.)

Quiller – 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 quiller

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	quille	Je quille souvent avec mes amis.	I often quill with my friends.
Tu	quilles	Tu quilles beaucoup pour un débutant.	You quill a lot for a beginner.
Il	quille	Il quille mieux que moi.	He quills better than me.
Elle	quille	Elle quille à côté de moi.	She quills next to me.
On	quille	On quille tous les vendredis.	We quill every Friday.
Nous	quillons	Nous quillons en équipe.	We quill as a team.
Vous	quillez	Vous quillez avec votre famille.	You quill with your family.
Ils	quillent	Ils quillent pour s’amuser.	They quill for fun.
Elles	quillent	Elles quillent ensemble depuis longtemps.	They quill together for a long time.