Salut mes beaux amis!
The verb of the day is Ouvrir. I am writing this post in the same format as the first post of this challenge. There is only one difference, though. I could not find any proverb to add here. 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
- Appearance of this verb in any song or textbook
Pronunciation Link
Meaning of the Verb
"Ouvrir" means "open." It could be used in the context of opening a door or unwrapping a gift. Of course, the usage is not limited to only these two categories. These were just examples.
Conjugation of this verb in various tenses and moods
1. Indicatif – Generally, Indicatif is used to state facts.
I write whenever I can.
You don't like drama.
We love reading books.
They have money, but they do not have a heart.
He did not go to the office today.
I did not have the courage at that moment.
He was having a rough day.
I used to ride a bicycle in the rain.
He had practiced his speech in front of the mirror before he went in front of a huge audience.
While I was in Bali, I admired nature for hours.
After my grandfather had worked for sixty years, he started gardening.
You will never write a song.
Would Irine help me with the song?
If you ask her, you will know.
By the time we'll reach, they will have hidden the evidence. (Crime investigation drama kicking in!)
My sister is getting ready in a minute.
- 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 ouvre
(Subject) open(s) or is/are/am openingTu ouvres Il ouvre Nous ouvrons Vous ouvrez Ils ouvrent
- 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 ouvert (Subject) opened(once), I have opened Tu as ouvert Il a ouvert Nous avons ouvert Vous avez ouvert Ils ont ouvert
- 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 ouvrais (Subject) was opening/ used to open Tu ouvrais Il ouvrait Nous ouvrions Vous ouvriez Ils ouvraient
- 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 ouvert (Subject) had opened Tu avais ouvert Il avait ouvert Nous avions ouvert Vous aviez ouvert Ils avaient ouvert
- 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 ouvris (Subject) opened Tu ouvris Il ouvrit Nous ouvrî mes Vous ouvrî tes Ils ouvrirent
- 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 ouvert (Subject) had opened Tu eus ouvert Il eut ouvert Nous eûmes ouvert Vous eûtes ouvert Ils eurent ouvert
- 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 ouvrirai (Subject) will open Tu ouvriras Il ouvrira Nous ouvrirons Vous ouvrirez Ils ouvriront
- 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 ouvert (Subject) will have opened/ will had opened Tu auras ouvert Il aura ouvert Nous aurons ouvert Vous aurez ouvert Ils auront ouvert
- 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 ouvrir (Subject) is/are/am opening/about to open Tu vas ouvrir Il va ouvrir Nous allons ouvrir Vous allez ouvrir Ils vont ouvrir
- Conditionnel – This mood is used to express statements of possibility and condition.
- 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 ouvrirais (Subject) would open Tu ouvrirais Il ouvrirait Nous ouvririons Vous ouvririez Ils ouvriraient
- 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 ouvert (Subject) would had opened/ would have opened Tu aurais ouvert Il aurait ouvert Nous aurions ouvert Vous auriez ouvert Ils auraient ouvert
- 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 ouvert (Subject) would had opened/ would have opened Tu eusses ouvert Il eût ouvert Nous eussions ouvert Vous eussiez ouvert Ils eussent ouvert
- Subjonctif – This mood of expressions focuses on various emotions, such as doubt, a fear, subjectivity, hope.
- 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 ouvre that (Subject) open(s) or is/are/am opening que tu ouvres qu’il ouvre que nous ouvrions que vous ouvriez qu’ils ouvrent
- 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 ouvrisse that (Subject) open(s) or that (Subject) was/were opening que tu ouvrisses qu’il ouvrît que nous ouvrissions que vous ouvrissiez qu’ils ouvrissent
- Plus-que-parfait – Again, this form is also used in literary documents.
que j’ eusse ouvert (Subject) would open/ open que tu eusses ouvert qu’il eût ouvert que nous eussions ouvert que vous eussiez ouvert qu’ils eussent ouvert
- 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 ouvert that (Subject) open(s) or that (Subject) was opening que tu aies ouvert qu’il ait ouvert que nous ayons ouvert que vous ayez ouvert qu’ils aient ouvert
- Impératif – This mood is utilized to give orders.
- Présent – There is nothing to explain here. This form is utilized in giving orders.
Drive me to the airport!
Sit with me!
Don't talk to me!
Ouvre Open! Ouvrons Let's open! Ouvrez Open!
Commonly used phrases with this verb
Two of the useful phrases are:
- ouvrir les yeux -- disabuse
- ouvir la voie à -- pave the way for
Appearance of this verb in any song or famous textbook
Les Yeux Ouverts song has an appearance of ouvrir. Click here to see the English translation of this song.
Ce souvenir, je te l'rends
Des souvenirs tu sais, j'en ai tellement
Puisqu'on repart toujours à zéro
Pas la peine de s'charger trop
Ce souvenir je te l'prends
Des souvenirs comme ça, j'en veux tout l'temps
Si par erreur la vie nous sépare
Je l'sortirai d'mon tiroir
J'rêve les yeux ouverts, ça m'fait du bien
Ça n'va pas plus loin
J'veux pas voir derrière puisque j'en viens
Vivement demain
Mon bonheur te ressemble
Tous les deux vous allez bien ensemble
J'te l'dirai jamais, jamais assez
Tout c'que tu fais m'fait d'l'effet
J'rêve les yeux ouverts, ça m'fait du bien
Ça n'va pas plus loin
J'veux pas voir derrière puisque j'en viens
Vivement demain
Hi Ankita, that's an interesting and detailed post on French. I know the language but the verb tense are quite confusing...that's why I do keep a distance...lol
ReplyDeletewww.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com
I agree. The grammar of this language is a bit complex. From next month, I am planning to start a basic French workbook series of French, which would help me and the readers to get a hang of the language. Of course, it's just a plan for now. Let's see how that goes.
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