Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Introduction to the verb commencer
The English translation of the French verb “commencer” is “to begin” or “to start.” The infinitive form “commencer” is pronounced as “koh-mahn-seh.”
The verb “commencer” originates from the Old French word “comencier,” which comes from the Latin word “cominitiare,” meaning “to initiate” or “to start.” In everyday French, “commencer” is commonly used in the Passé Simple tense, which is the literary past tense used in written French.
Here are three simple examples of the usage of “commencer” in the Passé Simple tense, along with their English translations:
- Je commençai mes études à l’université. (I began my studies at the university.)
- Il commença à pleuvoir pendant notre promenade. (It started raining during our walk.)
- Elles commencèrent à préparer le dîner ensemble. (They started preparing dinner together.)
Please note that the Passé Simple tense is rarely used in spoken French and is mostly reserved for formal writing and literature. In spoken French, the Passé Composé tense is commonly used to express actions in the past.
Table of the Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of commencer
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
Je | commençai | Je commençai à lire. | I started to read. |
Tu | commenças | Tu commenças le projet. | You started the project. |
Il | commença | Il commença à courir. | He started to run. |
Elle | commença | Elle commença à chanter. | She started to sing. |
On | commença | On commença le travail. | One started the work. |
Nous | commençâmes | Nous commençâmes la réunion. | We started the meeting. |
Vous | commençâtes | Vous commençâtes le cours. | You started the class. |
Ils | commencèrent | Ils commencèrent à jouer. | They started to play. |
Elles | commencèrent | Elles commencèrent à cuisiner. | They (feminine) started to cook. |
Other Conjugations for Commencer.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb commencer
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Commencer – About the French Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense
Formation
Usage
Narration
Historical Context
Interactions with other tenses
Passé Composé
Imparfait
Conditional and Subjunctive
Summary
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