The French verb "commencer" means "to begin" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "commencer" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "commencer" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | commence |
| tu | you (informal) | commences |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | commence |
| nous | we | commencons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | commencez |
| ils/elles | they | commencent |
Il commence un nouveau projet demain.
He begins a new project tomorrow.
How to Conjugate "commencer" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai commencé |
| tu | you (informal) | as commencé |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a commencé |
| nous | we | avons commencé |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez commencé |
| ils/elles | they | ont commencé |
Elle a commencé à pleurer.
She started to cry.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | commencais |
| tu | you (informal) | commencais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | commencait |
| nous | we | commencions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | commenciez |
| ils/elles | they | commencaient |
Elle commençait un nouveau projet.
She was starting a new project.
How to Conjugate "commencer" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | commencerai |
| tu | you (informal) | commenceras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | commencera |
| nous | we | commencerons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | commencerez |
| ils/elles | they | commenceront |
Il commencera le travail demain.
He will start the work tomorrow.
How to Conjugate "commencer" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | commencerais |
| tu | you (informal) | commencerais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | commencerait |
| nous | we | commencerions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | commenceriez |
| ils/elles | they | commenceraient |
Il commencerait le travail tôt.
He would begin the work early.
Frequently Asked Questions About "commencer"
Is "commencer" regular or irregular in French?
"Commencer" is a regular French verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "commencer" mean in English?
The French verb "commencer" means "to begin" in English.
How do you conjugate "commencer" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → commence, tu → commences, il/elle/on → commence, nous → commencons, vous → commencez, ils/elles → commencent.
How many tenses does "commencer" have in French?
"Commencer" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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