Introduction
The verb pleurer is an essential part of the French language, used to express the action of crying or weeping. It conveys emotions ranging from sadness to joy and is a crucial tool for describing emotional states.
Conjugation of Pleurer
Present Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | pleure |
| Tu | pleures |
| Il/Elle/On | pleure |
| Nous | pleurons |
| Vous | pleurez |
| Ils/Elles | pleurent |
Imperfect Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | pleurais |
| Tu | pleurais |
| Il/Elle/On | pleurait |
| Nous | pleurions |
| Vous | pleuriez |
| Ils/Elles | pleuraient |
Past Participle
- pleuré
Usage Examples
Present Tense
- Je pleure parce que je suis triste.
- I am crying because I am sad.
- Elle pleure de joie en voyant son ami.
- She is crying with joy upon seeing her friend.
Imperfect Tense
- Il pleurait quand il a entendu la mauvaise nouvelle.
- He was crying when he heard the bad news.
- Nous pleurions toujours pendant ce film émouvant.
- We always cried during that emotional movie.
Past Participle
- Elle a pleuré toute la nuit.
- She cried all night.
- Ils ont pleuré en regardant le documentaire.
- They cried while watching the documentary.
Common Expressions with Pleurer
- Pleurer de rire: to cry with laughter
- Il a raconté une blague si drôle que j'ai pleuré de rire.
- He told such a funny joke that I cried with laughter.
- Pleurer comme une madeleine: to cry a lot/bawl one's eyes out
- Elle pleurait comme une madeleine après le film.
- She was bawling her eyes out after the movie.
Conclusion
The verb pleurer is a powerful way to express deep emotions in French. Whether it's tears of sadness, joy, or laughter, pleurer helps convey the intensity of a moment.