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FRENCH VERB

balayer

to sweep

  • #412 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: balayé
  • Present participle: balayant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I sweep
  2. tu you sweep
  3. il, elle, on he/she sweeps
  4. nous we sweep
  5. vous you sweep
  6. ils, elles they sweep

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I swept
  2. tu you swept
  3. il, elle, on he/she swept
  4. nous we swept
  5. vous you swept
  6. ils, elles they swept

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to sweep
  2. tu you used to sweep
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to sweep
  4. nous we used to sweep
  5. vous you used to sweep
  6. ils, elles they used to sweep

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will sweep
  2. tu you will sweep
  3. il, elle, on he/she will sweep
  4. nous we will sweep
  5. vous you will sweep
  6. ils, elles they will sweep

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would sweep
  2. tu you would sweep
  3. il, elle, on he/she would sweep
  4. nous we would sweep
  5. vous you would sweep
  6. ils, elles they would sweep

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I sweep
  2. tu (that) you sweep
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she sweep
  4. nous (that) we sweep
  5. vous (that) you sweep
  6. ils, elles (that) they sweep

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu sweep!
  2. nous sweep! (let’s)
  3. vous sweep! (plural, or formal)

How to use balayer

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Le boulanger balaie devant sa boutique chaque matin.

    The baker sweeps in front of his shop every morning.

  2. Past

    J'ai balayé la terrasse, il y avait des feuilles partout.

    I swept the terrace, there were leaves everywhere.

  3. Imperfect

    Elle balayait la cuisine en chantant.

    She swept the kitchen while singing.

  4. Future

    Je balaierai le garage samedi, promis.

    I'll sweep the garage on Saturday, promise.

  5. Conditional

    Tu balaierais les miettes sous la table ?

    Would you sweep up the crumbs under the table?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que tu balaies avant de passer la serpillière.

    You need to sweep before mopping.

  7. Imperative

    Balaie le verre cassé, les enfants arrivent.

    Sweep up the broken glass, the kids are coming.

Good to know

  • Balayer is with a broom, un balai; passer l'aspirateur is to vacuum.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -er verb.