Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb compléter

Get the Passé Simple (Simple Past) tense conjugation of compléter. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb compléter is “to complete.” The infinitive form, compléter, is pronounced as “kohm-pley-tey.”

Compléter originates from the Latin word “complere,” which means “to fill up” or “to complete.” In everyday French, compléter is commonly used in the Passé Simple (Simple Past) tense to describe completed actions in the past. However, it is important to note that the Passé Simple is mainly used in written French, particularly in literature and formal writing, and is less frequently used in spoken language.

Here are three examples of compléter used in the Passé Simple tense, along with their English translations:

  1. J’achevai de compléter le puzzle. (I completed the puzzle.)
  2. Elle remplit le formulaire et compléta les informations manquantes. (She filled out the form and completed the missing information.)
  3. Les travailleurs complétèrent le projet en moins de temps que prévu. (The workers completed the project in less time than expected.)

Please note that in everyday spoken French, the Passé Composé (a conjugation of the verb avoir or être + past participle) is used more frequently to express past actions, instead of the Passé Simple.

Table of the Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of compléter

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
Je complétai J’ai complété le formulaire. I completed the form.
Tu complétas Tu complétas ton travail. You completed your work.
Il compléta Il compléta la tâche. He completed the task.
Elle compléta Elle compléta sa dissertation. She completed her dissertation.
On compléta On compléta les espaces vides. One completed the blank spaces.
Nous complétâmes Nous complétâmes le puzzle. We completed the puzzle.
Vous complétâtes Vous complétâtes le formulaire. You completed the form.
Ils complétèrent Ils complétèrent la mission. They completed the mission.
Elles complétèrent Elles complétèrent le tableau. They (feminine) completed the chart.

Other Conjugations for Compléter.

Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter (You’re reading it right now!)

Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compléter

Struggling with French verbs or the language in general? Why not use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

Get a FREE Download Study Sheet of this Conjugation 🔥

Simply right click the image below, click “save image” and get your free reference for the compléter Passé Simple tense conjugation! 

Compléter – About the French Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense

The French Passé Simple, also known as the Simple Past or Preterite, is a past tense used in written French to describe completed actions that took place at a specific point in the past.
It is not commonly used in everyday spoken language, where the Passé Composé is the preferred past tense. The Passé Simple is mainly found in literature, formal writing, and historical contexts. It has a somewhat limited use in modern French, and its conjugation can be complex.  
NOTE: To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Formation

The Passé Simple is formed by conjugating the verb according to its specific endings for regular and irregular verbs. The endings typically vary based on the verb group (i.e., -er, -ir, or -re). For example:
   – For regular -er verbs (e.g., manger, parler): Remove the -er ending and add appropriate endings, like -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent.
   – For regular -ir verbs (e.g., finir, choisir): Remove the -ir ending and add endings like -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.
   – For regular -re verbs (e.g., vendre, attendre): Remove the -re ending and add endings like -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.

Usage

Narration

The Passé Simple is commonly used in literature to describe past events in a narrative or storytelling context.

Historical Context

It can be used in historical writing or documents to discuss events that took place in the past.
Formal Writing
In formal or academic writing, especially in essays or reports, you might encounter the Passé Simple.

Interactions with other tenses

Passé Composé

In everyday spoken French, the Passé Composé is the go-to tense for describing completed actions in the past. The Passé Simple is not commonly used in spoken language and is often replaced by the Passé Composé.

Imparfait

While the Passé Simple focuses on completed actions in the past, the Imparfait is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. They can sometimes be used together to provide a more detailed past narrative. For example, “Il lisait un livre quand il reçut un appel.” (He was reading a book when he received a call).

Conditional and Subjunctive

The Passé Simple can also be found in the conditional and subjunctive moods in formal writing. For instance, “Il faudrait qu’il partît” (He should leave, subjunctive).

Summary

The French Passé Simple is primarily used in formal or literary contexts, and its conjugation can be quite complex. In everyday spoken French, the Passé Composé is the preferred past tense for describing completed actions.

I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb compléter. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb conjugation!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply