French Verb of Day.19 of Blogging #AtoZChallenge - Signifier!

Salut mes beaux amis!

The verb of the day is Signifier. 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
• 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 "Signifier."

Meaning of the Verb

Signify means, you guessed it right, to signify or mean. Many words in the french language are similar to that of English. Obviously, pronunciations are very different.

Conjugation of this verb in various tenses and moods

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

1. Présent – 
   

   1. 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 signifie	(Subject) signify(s) or is/are/am signifying
   Tu signifies
   Il signifie
   Nous signifions
   Vous signifiez
   Ils signifient

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

   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 signifiais	(Subject) was signifying/ used to signify
   Tu signifiais
   Il signifiait
   Nous signifiions
   Vous signifiiez
   Ils signifiaient

   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 signifié	(Subject) had signified
   Tu avais signifié
   Il avait signifié
   Nous avions signifié
   Vous aviez signifié
   Ils avaient signifié

   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 signifiai	(Subject) signifeded
   Tu signifias
   Il signifia
   Nous signifiâmes
   Vous signifiâtes
   Ils signifièrent

   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 signifié	(Subject) had signifed
   Tu eus signifié
   Il eut signifié
   Nous eûmes signifié
   Vous eûtes signifié
   Ils eurent signifié

   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 signifierai	(Subject) will signify
   Tu signifieras
   Il signifiera
   Nous signifierons
   Vous signifierez
   Ils signifieront

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

   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 signifier	(Subject) is/are/am signifying/about to signify
   Tu vas signifier
   Il va signifier
   Nous allons signifier
   Vous allez signifier
   Ils vont signifier

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 signifierais	(Subject) would signify
   Tu signifierais
   Il signifierait
   Nous signifierions
   Vous signifieriez
   Ils signifieraient

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

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

   
   
   

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 signifie	that (Subject) signify(s) or is/are/am signifying
   que tu signifies
   qu’il signifie
   que nous signifiions
   que vous signifiiez
   qu’ils signifient

   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 signifiasse	that (Subject) signify(s) or that (Subject) was/were signifying
   que tu signifiasses
   qu’il signifiât
   que nous signifiassions
   que vous signifiassiez
   qu’ils signifiassent

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

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

   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 signifié	that (Subject) signify(s) or that (Subject) was signifying
   que tu aies signifié
   qu’il ait signifié
   que nous ayons signifié
   que vous ayez signifié
   qu’ils aient signifié

   
   
   

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!

Signifie	Signify!
Signifions	Let's signify!
Signifiez	Signify!

Appearance of this verb in any song or famous textbook 

Read this passege from Alice in Wonderland:

Elle se répéta ce dernier mot deux ou trois fois, très fière de le savoir; car elle pensait, à juste titre d'ailleurs, que très peu de petites filles de son âge en connaissaient la signification. Néanmoins, elle aurait pu tout aussi bien employer le mot: «jurés».