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FRENCH VERB

plier

to fold

  • #414 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: plié
  • Present participle: pliant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use plier

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

  1. Present

    Je plie le linge pendant que tu cuisines.

    I'll fold the laundry while you cook.

  2. Past

    J'ai plié la carte, elle est dans la boîte à gants.

    I folded the map, it's in the glove box.

  3. Imperfect

    Il pliait ses chemises comme dans les magasins.

    He folded his shirts like in the shops.

  4. Future

    On pliera la tente dès qu'elle sera sèche.

    We'll fold the tent as soon as it's dry.

  5. Conditional

    Tu plierais ce papier en deux pour moi ?

    Would you fold this paper in half for me?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que tu plies les genoux pour soulever ça.

    You need to bend your knees to lift that.

  7. Imperative

    Pliez la feuille en trois avant de la mettre dans l'enveloppe.

    Fold the sheet in three before putting it in the envelope.

Good to know

  • Plier bagage is to pack up and leave; se plier en quatre, to bend over backwards for someone.

Verbs like this one

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