“Commencer” – Conjugation of the French Verb

The French language is known for its complex verb conjugations, and one of the verbs that often poses a challenge for learners is “commencer.” In this article, we will explore the conjugation of the verb “commencer” in various tenses and moods, providing you with a comprehensive guide to using this essential French verb.

 

Present Tense (Présent)

– Je commence – I start
– Tu commences – You start (informal)
– Il/elle/on commence – He/she/one starts
– Nous commençons – We start
– Vous commencez – You start (formal/plural)
– Ils/elles commencent – They start

 

Imperfect Tense (Imparfait)

– Je commençais – I was starting
– Tu commençais – You were starting (informal)
– Il/elle/on commençait – He/she/one was starting
– Nous commencions – We were starting
– Vous commenciez – You were starting (formal/plural)
– Ils/elles commençaient – They were starting

 

Simple Past (Passé Simple)

– Je commençai – I started
– Tu commenças – You started (informal)
– Il/elle/on commença – He/she/one started
– Nous commençâmes – We started
– Vous commençâtes – You started (formal/plural)
– Ils/elles commencèrent – They started

 

Future Tense (Futur Simple)

– Je commencerai – I will start
– Tu commenceras – You will start (informal)
– Il/elle/on commencera – He/she/one will start
– Nous commencerons – We will start
– Vous commencerez – You will start (formal/plural)
– Ils/elles commenceront – They will start

 

Conditional Mood (Conditionnel Présent)

– Je commencerais – I would start
– Tu commencerais – You would start (informal)
– Il/elle/on commencerait – He/she/one would start
– Nous commencerions – We would start
– Vous commenceriez – You would start (formal/plural)
– Ils/elles commenceraient – They would start

 

Subjunctive Mood (Subjonctif Présent)

– Que je commence – That I start
– Que tu commences – That you start (informal)
– Qu'il/elle/on commence – That he/she/one starts
– Que nous commencions – That we start
– Que vous commenciez – That you start (formal/plural)
– Qu'ils/elles commencent – That they start

 

Imperative Mood (Impératif)

– Commence ! – Start! (informal singular)
– Commençons ! – Let's start!
– Commencez ! – Start! (formal/plural)

 

10 example sentences with the word “commencer”

Here are 10 example sentences with the word “commencer” in different grammatical tenses:

1. J'ai commencé mes devoirs. (I started my homework.) – Past simple
2. Il commence à pleuvoir. (It is starting to rain.) – Present tense
3. Nous commencerons bientôt notre voyage. (We will start our trip soon.) – Future tense
4. Elle commençait à se sentir mieux. (She was starting to feel better.) – Imperfect tense
5. Vous commencerez le projet demain. (You will start the project tomorrow.) – Future tense
6. Ils ont commencé la réunion sans moi. (They started the meeting without me.) – Past simple
7. Tu commencerais un nouveau livre si tu avais le temps. (You would start a new book if you had the time.) – Conditional mood
8. Que nous commencions à travailler ensemble. (That we start working together.) – Subjunctive mood
9. Commencez à préparer le dîner. (Start preparing dinner.) – Imperative mood
10. Le film commencera à 20 heures. (The movie will start at 8 p.m.) – Future tense

These examples showcase the versatility of the verb “commencer” across different tenses and moods in French.