Conjugation

Play around with

s'amuser avec; expérimenter avec

Regular verb, phrasal verb.

Conjugated like want, look, need, pitter-patter, pivot into, plead

  • Phrasal verb: around with

    Only play changes; around with stays the same: played around with, played around with.

In speech, the helping verbs shorten: I’m, he’s, we’re, I’ve, I’ll, I’d.

Newbie

Enough to talk about now, the past, and your plans, and to give instructions.

  1. Present simple

    Habits, facts, and how things usually are. To say no or ask, add do or does: I don't play around with, he doesn't play around with.

    1. I / you / we / they play around with
    2. he / she / it plays around with

  2. Present continuous

    What is happening now, and plans already arranged: we’re leaving tomorrow.

    1. I am playing around with
    2. you / we / they are playing around with
    3. he / she / it is playing around with

  3. Past simple

    A finished action at a past time: yesterday, in 2020. To say no or ask, add did: I didn't play around with.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they played around with

  4. Future with going to

    Plans and intentions, and what you can see coming: it’s going to rain.

    1. I am going to play around with
    2. you / we / they are going to play around with
    3. he / she / it is going to play around with

  5. Imperative

    Orders, advice, and instructions. Let’s suggests doing it together. To say no: don't play around with.

    1. (you) play around with
    2. let's play around with
BeginnerExperiences, what you were doing, and the future with will.Present perfect · Past continuous · Future with willAlso show the Beginner tenses (3)

  1. Present perfect

    The past linked to now: experiences, news, and what started earlier and still goes on: I’ve lived here for two years.

    1. I / you / we / they have played around with
    2. he / she / it has played around with

  2. Past continuous

    An action in progress at a past moment, often interrupted: I was cooking when you called.

    1. I / he / she / it was playing around with
    2. you / we / they were playing around with

  3. Future with will

    Predictions, promises, offers, and decisions made now: I’ll help you.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will play around with
IntermediateHow long something has lasted, the past before the past, and what would happen.Present perfect continuous · Past perfect · Future continuous · Conditional · Conditional perfectAlso show the Intermediate tenses (5)

  1. Present perfect continuous

    An activity from the past until now, and how long it has lasted: I’ve been waiting for an hour.

    1. I / you / we / they have been playing around with
    2. he / she / it has been playing around with

  2. Past perfect

    The past before another past moment: when I arrived, the train had left.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they had played around with

  3. Future continuous

    An action in progress at a future moment: this time tomorrow, I’ll be flying.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will be playing around with

  4. Conditional

    What would happen in an imagined situation, and polite requests: if I had time, I would help.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would play around with

  5. Conditional perfect

    What would have happened, but did not: if I had known, I would have come.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would have played around with
AdvancedWhat will have happened, and the longer continuous tenses.Past perfect continuous · Future perfect · Future perfect continuous · Conditional continuous · Conditional perfect continuousAlso show the Advanced tenses (5)

  1. Past perfect continuous

    An activity that had been going on until a past moment: she was tired because she had been running.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they had been playing around with

  2. Future perfect

    An action finished before a future moment: by Friday, I’ll have finished.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will have played around with

  3. Future perfect continuous

    How long an activity will have lasted at a future moment: in June, I’ll have been working here for a year.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will have been playing around with

  4. Conditional continuous

    An action that would be in progress in an imagined situation: if I were rich, I would be traveling now.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would be playing around with

  5. Conditional perfect continuous

    An activity that would have been going on in an imagined past: without the rain, we would have been playing outside.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would have been playing around with