The French verb "rester" means "to stay" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "rester" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "rester" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | reste |
| tu | you (informal) | restes |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | reste |
| nous | we | restons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | restez |
| ils/elles | they | restent |
Elle reste calme dans les crises.
She stays calm during crises.
How to Conjugate "rester" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai resté |
| tu | you (informal) | as resté |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a resté |
| nous | we | avons resté |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez resté |
| ils/elles | they | ont resté |
Il est resté ici.
He stayed here.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | restais |
| tu | you (informal) | restais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | restait |
| nous | we | restions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | restiez |
| ils/elles | they | restaient |
Il restait tard au bureau.
He used to stay late at the office.
How to Conjugate "rester" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | resterai |
| tu | you (informal) | resteras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | restera |
| nous | we | resterons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | resterez |
| ils/elles | they | resteront |
Il restera calme pendant tout.
He will stay calm during everything.
How to Conjugate "rester" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | resterais |
| tu | you (informal) | resterais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | resterait |
| nous | we | resterions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | resteriez |
| ils/elles | they | resteraient |
Elle resterait calme en danger.
She would stay calm in danger.
Frequently Asked Questions About "rester"
Is "rester" regular or irregular in French?
"Rester" is a regular French verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "rester" mean in English?
The French verb "rester" means "to stay" in English.
How do you conjugate "rester" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → reste, tu → restes, il/elle/on → reste, nous → restons, vous → restez, ils/elles → restent.
How many tenses does "rester" have in French?
"Rester" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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