French Verb of Day.15 of Blogging #AtoZChallenge - Ouvrir!

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

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 "Ouvrir."

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.

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 ouvre	(Subject) open(s) or is/are/am opening
Tu ouvres
Il ouvre
Nous ouvrons
Vous ouvrez
Ils ouvrent

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 ouvert	(Subject) opened(once), I have opened
Tu as ouvert
Il a ouvert
Nous avons ouvert
Vous avez ouvert
Ils ont ouvert

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 ouvrais	(Subject) was opening/ used to open
Tu ouvrais
Il ouvrait
Nous ouvrions
Vous ouvriez
Ils ouvraient

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 ouvert	(Subject) had opened
Tu avais ouvert
Il avait ouvert
Nous avions ouvert
Vous aviez ouvert
Ils avaient ouvert

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 ouvris	(Subject) opened
Tu ouvris
Il ouvrit
Nous ouvrî mes
Vous ouvrî tes
Ils ouvrirent

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 ouvert	(Subject) had opened
Tu eus ouvert
Il eut ouvert
Nous eûmes ouvert
Vous eûtes ouvert
Ils eurent ouvert

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 ouvrirai	(Subject) will open
Tu ouvriras
Il ouvrira
Nous ouvrirons
Vous ouvrirez
Ils ouvriront

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 ouvert	(Subject) will have opened/ will had opened
Tu auras ouvert
Il aura ouvert
Nous aurons ouvert
Vous aurez ouvert
Ils auront ouvert

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 ouvrir	(Subject) is/are/am opening/about to open
Tu vas ouvrir
Il va ouvrir
Nous allons ouvrir
Vous allez ouvrir
Ils vont ouvrir

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 ouvrirais	(Subject) would open
   Tu ouvrirais
   Il ouvrirait
   Nous ouvririons
   Vous ouvririez
   Ils ouvriraient

   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 ouvert	(Subject) would had opened/ would have opened
   Tu aurais ouvert
   Il aurait ouvert
   Nous aurions ouvert
   Vous auriez ouvert
   Ils auraient ouvert

   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 ouvert	(Subject) would had opened/ would have opened
   Tu eusses ouvert
   Il eût ouvert
   Nous eussions ouvert
   Vous eussiez ouvert
   Ils eussent ouvert

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 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

   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 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

   3. 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

   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 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

   
   

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!

Ouvre	Open!
Ouvrons	Let's open!
Ouvrez	Open!

Commonly used phrases with this verb

Two of the useful phrases are:

1. ouvrir les yeux  -- disabuse
2. 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