French Verb of Day.4 of Blogging A to Z Challenge - Dire!

Salut mes amis incroyables!

The verb of the day is Dire. 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
• Let's write a little French with this verb
• Commonly used phrases with this verb
• Proverb with this verb
• Appearance of this verb in any song or textbook

With that, let's talk a lot with the verb of  the day: dire.

Pronunciation Link

To know the correct pronunciation of this verb, click here.

Meaning of the Verb

The meaning of the verb "dire" is "say." We all love to talk, discuss many dialogues of our friends, and quote celebrities in our daily conversation; therefore, I selected this verb. Another closest competitor of this verb was "donner." After going back and forth between these two ideas, I decided to give that verb a chance that had popped into my head first; that verb was "dire."

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 dis	(Subject) say(s) or is/are/am saying
Tu dis
Il dit
Nous disons
Vous dites
Ils disent

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

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 disais	(Subject) was saying/ used to say
Tu disais
Il disait
Nous disions
Vous disiez
Ils disaient

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 dit	(Subject) had said
Tu avais dit
Il avait dit
Nous avions dit
Vous aviez dit
Ils avaient dit

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 dis	(Subject) said
Tu dis
Il dit
Nous dîmes
Vous dîtes
Ils dirent

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 dit	(Subject) had said
Tu eus dit
Il eut dit
Nous eûmes dit
Vous eûtes dit
Ils eurent dit

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 dirai	(Subject) will say
Tu diras
Il dira
Nous dirons
Vous direz
Ils diront

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 dit	(Subject) will have said
Tu auras dit
Il aura dit
Nous aurons dit
Vous aurez dit
Ils auront dit

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 dire	(Subject) is/are/am saying/about to say
Tu vas dire
Il va dire
Nous allons dire
Vous allez dire
Ils vont dire

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 dirais	(Subject) would say
Tu dirais
Il dirait
Nous dirrions
Vous diriez
Ils diraient

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 dit	(Subject) would have said
Tu aurais dit
Il aurait dit
Nous aurions dit
Vous auriez dit
Ils auraient dit

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 dit	(Subject) would have said
Tu eusses dit
Il eût dit
Nous eussions dit
Vous eussiez dit
Ils eussent dit

3. Subjonctif – This mood of expressions focuses on various emotions, such as doubt, a fear, subjectivity, hope.
   
   1. Présent the – 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 dise	that (Subject) say(s) or is/are/am saying
que tu dises
qu’il dise
que nous disions
que vous disiez
qu’ils disent

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 disse	that (Subject) said or that (Subject) was/were saying
que tu disses
qu’il dît
que nous dissions
que vous dissiez
qu’ils dissent

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

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

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 dit	that (Subject) said or that (Subject) was saying
que tu aies dit
qu’il ait dit
que nous ayons dit
que vous ayez dit
qu’ils aient dit

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!

Dis	Say!
Disons	Let's say!
Dites	Say!

Let's Write a little French with this Verb

Indicatif

Présent

I say,"You should do what you want to do."

Je dis: «Vous devez faire ce que vous voulez faire.»

Passé Composé + Imparfait + Plus-que-parfait + Future proche + Subjonctif + Future





I said, “Let us say his name.” They said, “ We used to say Voldemort's name but the director stopped us.” I replied, “You just said his name. Saying a name does not hurt. From today, we are going to say his name. We had said his name before joining Hogwarts. Why should we stop, now? I wish that we say what's in our hearts. Then we will be saying more humorous and sensible things."



J'ai dit: «Disons que son nom.» Ils ont dit «Nous avions dire le nom de Voldemort, mais le directeur nous a arrêtés.» Je lui ai répondu: «Vous avez juste dit son nom. Dire un nom ne fait pas mal. A partir d'aujourd'hui, nous allons dire son nom. Nous avions dit son nom avant de rejoindre Hogwarts. Pourquoi devrions-nous arrêter maintenant. Je souhaite que nous disions ce qui est dans nos cœurs. Puis, nous dirons plus de choses humoristiques et sensibles.»

Commonly used phrases with this verb

Some of my favorite phrases are:

1. pour tout dire - in short
2. dire des bêtises - talk nonsense
3. vouloir dire - signify
4. dire sa façon de penser - speak one's mind

Proverbs using this verb

dis-moi qui tu hantes, je te dirai qui tu es - This proverb reminds me of the English saying, " Birds of a feather flock together." If I want to say that a man is known by the people they hang out with, then I can sound French by saying,"dis-moi qui tu hantes, je te dirai qui tu es."

Appearance of this verb in any song or famous textbook 

A song named "dire" uses this verb very beautifully. Moreover, the lyrics of this song is amazing, too. Click here to check out the video and translation of this song.

Dire
Plus que tout
C'est comme ça que tu voulais l'aimer
Rien que nous
Tu lui disais pour la faire rêver
Après tout
Lui mentir ne t'as pas servi
Tu es là tout seul le cœur désuni
Pour toujours
Douceur, tendresse elle t'avait juré
Par amour
Elle s'était donnée
Sans détour
Elle voulait t'aimer
ça t'faisait peur
Ces overdoses de bonheur
Dire
Que tu réalises à ton tour
Que vivre sans elle, c'est l'enfer tous les jours
Libre tu te prends à tout détester
Même cette liberté
Tu te sens emprisonné
Dire
Que tu regrettes à n'en crever
C'est pire tu t'accuses d'avoir mal aimé
Dire que tout semblait parfait
Tu voudrais courir, la rattraper
Dire encore
Que ses yeux désarmants
Vibrent fort
Dans tes rêves noirs et blancs
Vivre alors que tout s'éclaire trop tard
Vivre fort comme s'il restait de l'espoir

Source: http://lyricstranslate.com