French Verb of Day.13 of Blogging #AtoZChallenge - Manger!

Salut mes beaux amis!

The verb of the day is Manger. I am writing this post in the same format as the first post of this challenge. Again, if you find any correction, please do not hesitate to point out. I am a French language learner, not a teacher. I'd appreciate the courteous and constructive feedback. I have divided the post into these main sections:

• Pronunciation Link
• Meaning of this Verb
• Conjugation of the verb in different tenses and moods
• Commonly used phrases with this verb
• Proverb with this verb
• Appearance of this verb in any song or textbook

So, let's have some fun while learning the usage of the verb of the day.

Pronunciation Link

Click here to learn the pronunciation of "Manger."

Meaning of the Verb

The verb "Manger" means "eat." Although my appearance deceives everybody, I love eating; hence, I selected this verb. For other foodies, this would work as a boon. Say "J'ai besoin de manger," and your message will be delivered to the French.

Conjugation of this verb in various tenses and moods

1. Indicatif – Generally, Indicatif is used to state facts.

1. Présent – It is similar to Present tense of English. We use this form to express facts, conditions, habits, and routine.

The sample sentences, as per my knowledge, could be:

I write whenever I can.

You don't like drama.

We love reading books.

They have money, but they do not have a heart.

Je mange	(Subject) eat(s) or is/are/am eating
Tu manges
Il mange
Nous mangeons
Vous mangez
Ils mangent

2. Passé Composé – It resonates with Present Perfect and Past forms of English language. This form is utilized to a talk about the actions that were completed in the past, and we wish to draw the attention towards its results.

I went to get a manicure in the morning.

He did not go to the office today.

I did not have the courage at that moment.

J’ai mangé	(Subject) ate(once), I have eaten
Tu as mangé
Il a mangé
Nous avons mangé
Vous avez mangé
Ils ont mangé

3. Imparfait – Imparfait form is used to write about description, habit, and actions that occurred simultaneously in the past.

It was a beautiful day.

He was having a rough day.

I used to ride a bicycle in the rain.

Je mangeais	(Subject) was eating/ used to eat
Tu mangeais
Il mangeait
Nous mangeions
Vous mangeiez
Ils mangeaient

4. Plus-que-parfait – This is the French version of “Past perfect” of English language. If you are narrating an incident that occurred in the past, and I you wish to include a detail that happened even before the time of that incident, you use plus-que-parfait form.

I had studied a lot before I could get a job.

He had practiced his speech in front of the mirror before he went in front of a huge audience.

J’avais mangé	(Subject) had eaten
Tu avais mangé
Il avait mangé
Nous avions mangé
Vous aviez mangé
Ils avaient mangé

5. Passé simple – Similar to Passé Composé, Passé simple is used to describe completed actions in the past and the actions that were interrupted in the past. Being same as Passé Composé, its examples are similar to Passé Composé.

Last year, I went to Bali.

While I was in Bali, I admired nature for hours.

Je mangeai	(Subject) ate
Tu mangeas
Il mangea
Nous mangeâmes
Vous mangeâtes
Ils mangèrent

6. Passé antérieur – This is same as Past Perfect of English language. This form is mostly used in literature.

As soon as I was in the library, I decided to issue the book “Pride and Prejudice.”

After my grandfather had worked for sixty years, he started gardening.

J’eus mangé	(Subject) had eaten
Tu eus mangé
Il eut mangé
Nous eûmes mangé
Vous eûtes mangé
Ils eurent mangé

7. Futur – Futur is same as Future tense of English language. This form comes into picture when we are either expressing an intended action in the future or making an assumption in both present and future. Also, it may be used to make a polite request.

Tomorrow, I will write a song.

You will never write a song.

Would Irine help me with the song?

If you ask her, you will know.

Je mangerai	(Subject) will eat
Tu mangeras
Il mangera
Nous mangerons
Vous mangerez
Ils mangeront

8. Futur antérieur – Remember future perfect tense? Futur antérieur is its brother :) When you are imagining or considering something to happen in the future or something that might have happened in the past, you use this form.

He'll probably have had three boxes of cereal or he had drank three cartons of milk. (I know it's a stupid sentence, but I couldn't think of something else.)

By the time we'll reach, they will have hidden the evidence. (Crime investigation drama kicking in!)

J’aurai mangé	(Subject) will have eaten/ will had eaten
Tu auras mangé
Il aura mangé
Nous aurons mangé
Vous aurez mangé
Ils auront mangé

9. Future proche – Future Proche form is used to describe an event or action that is either definite to occur in a short while or planned to happen in the future.

I am going to get a laptop in two minutes. (I'm not :( )

My sister is getting ready in a minute.

Je vais manger	(Subject) is/are/am eating/about to eat
Tu vas manger
Il va manger
Nous allons manger
Vous allez manger
Ils vont manger

2. Conditionnel – This mood is used to express statements of possibility and condition.
   1. Présent – If we wish to express a possibility about present or future from a past point of view, then this would be my choice of sentence form.
   I would like to be an author, someday.
   
   Drashti thought that she might go on a vacation to Paris.
   
   If she went to Paris, she could become a model.
   
   Arun, could you stop teasing me?
   
   

   Je mangerais	(Subject) would eat
   Tu mangerais
   Il mangerait
   Nous mangerions
   Vous mangeriez
   Ils mangeraient

   2. Passé – Imagine that you are telling about an incident that happened in the past, where you expressed a possibility, then this is the form you need to be using. Of course, it is confusing, but don't worry. Hopefully, sample sentences will help in making it understandable.
   If I had gone with you, I would have scolded him.
   My grandfather would have sorted our problems if we had asked him.
   *Tip – Use Conditionnel Passé in that part of the sentence that indicates a result of the action.

   J’aurais mangé	(Subject) would had eaten/ would have eaten
   Tu aurais mangé
   Il aurait mangé
   Nous aurions mangé
   Vous auriez mangé
   Ils auraient mangé

   3. Passé - forme alternative – This form is used in literary formats of writing. Not my cup of tea! The same thought can be expressed by using above form.

   J’eusse mangé	(Subject) would had eaten/ would have eaten
   Tu eusses mangé
   Il eût mangé
   Nous eussions mangé
   Vous eussiez mangé
   Ils eussent mangé

   
   

3. Subjonctif – This mood of expressions focuses on various emotions, such as doubt, a fear, subjectivity, hope.
   1. Présent – If the main part of the sentence is in present form, then the part after que, expressing emotions, will be in subjonctif présent form. Confused? Well, hopefully, sample sentences will clear the air.
   It is important to me that my family eats dinner together.
   I am happy that my readers like my blog.

   
   

   que je mange	that (Subject) eat(s) or is/are/am eating
   que tu manges
   qu’il mange
   que nous mangions
   que vous mangiez
   qu’ils mangent

   2. Imparfait –If the main part of the sentence is in past form, then the part after que, expressing emotions, will be in subjonctif imparfait form. However, this form is used in literary docs. For ordinary usage, subjonctif passé is our guy.

   que je mangesse	that (Subject) eat(s) or that (Subject) was/were eating
   que tu mangesses
   qu’il lût
   que nous mangessions
   que vous mangessiez
   qu’ils mangessent

   3. Plus-que-parfait – Again, this form is also used in literary documents.

   que j’ eusse mangé	(Subject) would eat/ eat
   que tu eusses mangé
   qu’il eût mangé
   que nous eussions mangé
   que vous eussiez mangé
   qu’ils eussent mangé

   4. Passé – If main part of the sentence is in past form, then the part after que, expressing emotions, will be in subjonctif passé form. Other than this, if we are expressing emotions about somebody's past, then too, we use this form.

   I had wished that he would succeed in his hunt for a decent job.

   
   He is afraid that he received love from everybody only for his money.

   
   

   que j’aie mangé	that (Subject) eat(s) or that (Subject) was eating
   que tu aies mangé
   qu’il ait mangé
   que nous ayons mangé
   que vous ayez mangé
   qu’ils aient mangé

   
   

4. Impératif – This mood is utilized to give orders.
   1. Présent – There is nothing to explain here. This form is utilized in giving orders.

Take me to the mall!

Drive me to the airport!

Sit with me!

Don't talk to me!

mange	Eat!
mangeons	Let's eat!
mangez	Eat!

Commonly used phrases with this verb

Two of my favorite phrases are:

1. salle à manger  -- dining room
2. conseils pour bien manger -- healthy eating tips

Proverbs using this verb

"Il faut manger pour vivre et non pas vivre pour manger" is the French equivalent of English proverb "Gluttony kills more than a sword." I like the straightforwardness of french proverb better. What do you think?

Appearance of this verb in any song or famous textbook 

A traditional french song, now being considered a children's song, "Il était un petit navire ", uses  this verb. Here is the lyrics of the song:

Il était un petit navire {x2}
Qui n’avait ja-ja-jamais navigué {x2}
Ohé ! Ohé !

{Refrain:}

Ohé ! Ohé ! Matelot,
Matelot navigue sur les flots
Ohé ! Ohé ! Matelot,
Matelot navigue sur les flots

Il entreprit un long voyage {x2}
Sur la mer Mé-Mé-Méditerranée {x2}
Ohé ! Ohé !

Au bout de cinq à six semaines, (x2)
Les vivres vin-vin-vinrent à manquer (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

On tira à la courte paille, (x2)
Pour savoir qui-qui-qui serait mangé, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Le sort tomba sur le plus jeune, (x2)
C’est donc lui qui-qui-qui fut désigné, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

On cherche alors à quelle sauce, (x2)
Le pauvre enfant-fant-fant sera mangé, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

L’un voulait qu’on le mît à frire, (x2)
L’autre voulait-lait-lait le fricasser, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Pendant qu’ainsi l’on délibère, (x2)
Il monte en haut-haut-haut du grand hunier, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Il fait au ciel une prière (x2)
Interrogeant-geant-geant l’immensité, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Mais regardant la mer entière, (x2)
Il vit des flots-flots-flots de tous côtés, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Oh ! Sainte Vierge ma patronne, (x2)
Cria le pau-pau-pauvre infortuné, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Si j’ai péché, vite pardonne, (x2)
Empêche-les-les-les de me manger, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Au même instant un grand miracle, (x2)
Pour l’enfant fut-fut-fut réalisé, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Des p’tits poissons dans le navire, (x2)
Sautèrent par-par-par et par milliers, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

On les prit, on les mit à frire, (x2)
Le jeune mou-mou-mousse fut sauvé, (x2)
Ohé ! Ohé !

Si cette histoire vous amuse, (x2)
Nous allons la-la-la recommencer, (x2)

Ohé ! Ohé !

Click on the link below to see the translation of its lyrics:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_%C3%A9tait_un_petit_navire