Learner note. Irregular: nous craignons, past participle 'craint'; often + de + infinitive.
- Je crains le pire.I fear the worst.
- Ils ont craint pour leur sécurité.They feared for their safety.
stemending regular ending irr breaks the pattern · tap any form to hear it
Indicatif Indicative
PrésentPresent
Présent of craindre| je | (irregular; regular pattern would give crainds) |
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| tu | (irregular; regular pattern would give crainds) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular; regular pattern would give craind) |
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| nous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindons) |
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| vous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindez) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindent) |
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Passé composéCompound past
Passé composé of craindre| j' | (irregular) |
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| tu | (irregular) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular) |
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| nous | (irregular) |
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| vous | (irregular) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular) |
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ImparfaitImperfect
Imparfait of craindre| je | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindais) |
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| tu | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindais) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindait) |
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| nous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindions) |
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| vous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindiez) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindaient) |
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Futur simpleFuture
Futur simple of craindre| je | |
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| tu | |
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| il/elle/on | |
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| nous | |
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| vous | |
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| ils/elles | |
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Plus-que-parfaitPluperfect
Plus-que-parfait of craindre| j' | (irregular) |
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| tu | (irregular) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular) |
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| nous | (irregular) |
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| vous | (irregular) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular) |
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Passé simpleSimple past (literary)
Passé simple of craindre| je | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindis) |
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| tu | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindis) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindit) |
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| nous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindîmes) |
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| vous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindîtes) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindirent) |
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Futur antérieurFuture perfect
Futur antérieur of craindre| j' | (irregular) |
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| tu | (irregular) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular) |
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| nous | (irregular) |
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| vous | (irregular) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular) |
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Passé antérieurPast anterior (literary)
Passé antérieur of craindre| j' | (irregular) |
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| tu | (irregular) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular) |
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| nous | (irregular) |
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| vous | (irregular) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular) |
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Conditionnel Conditional
Conditionnel présentPresent conditional
Conditionnel présent of craindre| je | |
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| tu | |
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| il/elle/on | |
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| nous | |
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| vous | |
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| ils/elles | |
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Conditionnel passéPast conditional
Conditionnel passé of craindre| j' | (irregular) |
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| tu | (irregular) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular) |
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| nous | (irregular) |
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| vous | (irregular) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular) |
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Subjonctif Subjunctive
Subjonctif présentPresent subjunctive
Subjonctif présent of craindre| je | (irregular; regular pattern would give crainde) |
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| tu | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindes) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular; regular pattern would give crainde) |
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| nous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindions) |
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| vous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindiez) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindent) |
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Subjonctif passéPast subjunctive
Subjonctif passé of craindre| j' | (irregular) |
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| tu | (irregular) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular) |
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| nous | (irregular) |
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| vous | (irregular) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular) |
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Subjonctif imparfaitImperfect subjunctive (literary)
Subjonctif imparfait of craindre| je | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindisse) |
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| tu | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindisses) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindît) |
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| nous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindissions) |
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| vous | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindissiez) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindissent) |
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Subjonctif plus-que-parfaitPluperfect subjunctive (literary)
Subjonctif plus-que-parfait of craindre| j' | (irregular) |
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| tu | (irregular) |
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| il/elle/on | (irregular) |
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| nous | (irregular) |
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| vous | (irregular) |
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| ils/elles | (irregular) |
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Impératif Imperative
Impératif présentCommands
Impératif présent of craindre| (tu) | (irregular; regular pattern would give crainds) |
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| (nous) | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindons) |
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| (vous) | (irregular; regular pattern would give craindez) |
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Craindre FAQ
How do you conjugate craindre in the present tense?
Craindre in the French présent: je crains, tu crains, il/elle/on craint, nous craignons, vous craignez, ils/elles craignent.
What is the Passé composé of craindre?
j' ai craint, tu as craint, il/elle/on a craint, nous avons craint, vous avez craint, ils/elles ont craint. Craindre uses avoir as its auxiliary.
Is craindre irregular?
Yes. Craindre has irregular forms in 13 tenses; they are the forms on dark tiles in the tables above.
What does craindre mean in English?
Craindre means “to fear”. The past participle is craint.