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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb constater

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The English translation of the French verb “constater” is “to note” or “to observe.” The infinitive form of “constater” is pronounced as “kɔ̃s.ta.te”.

The language origin of “constater” can be traced back to the Latin word “constatare,” which means “to establish” or “to confirm.” In everyday French, “constater” is commonly used in the Passé Simple tense to express actions that occurred and were completed in the past. However, it is important to note that the Passé Simple tense is relatively formal and is mostly used in written French, literature, or formal speeches rather than in everyday spoken language.

Here are three simple examples of “constater” used in the Passé Simple tense with their respective English translations:

  1. Les scientifiques constatèrent une augmentation de la température. (The scientists noted an increase in temperature.)
  2. Le juge constata les preuves et rendit son verdict. (The judge observed the evidence and delivered his verdict.)
  3. Nous constatâmes des dommages importants après l’accident. (We observed significant damages after the accident.)

Please note that these examples are in the Passé Simple tense, which is commonly used in formal writing or literature, but less frequently used in everyday spoken French.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
Je constatai J’ai constaté une erreur. I noted an error.
Tu constatas Tu constatas le problème. You noted the problem.
Il constata Il constata une défaillance. He noted a failure.
Elle constata Elle constata une anomalie. She noted an anomaly.
On constata On constata une absence. One noted an absence.
Nous constatâmes Nous constatâmes un changement. We noted a change.
Vous constatâtes Vous constatâtes une amélioration. You noted an improvement.
Ils constatèrent Ils constatèrent un retard. They noted a delay.
Elles constatèrent Elles constatèrent une différence. They (feminine) noted a difference.

Other Conjugations for Constater.

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

Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constater

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Constater – 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 constater. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb conjugation!

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