Présentpresent
| je (j’) | sens |
|---|---|
| tu | sens |
| il/elle/on | sent |
| nous | sentons |
| vous | sentez |
| ils/elles | sentent |
More on this: Present tense: -ir verbs
Conjugation of sentir
- Meaning to feel, to smell
- Level A1
- Pattern irregular
- Auxiliary avoir
What is special about this verb
- Also used reflexively: se sentir — the same forms, with the matching pronoun.
Bold and underlined: the ending. ◆ marks a form that breaks the rule.
Indicative
Imparfaitongoing or habitual past
| je (j’) | sentais |
|---|---|
| tu | sentais |
| il/elle/on | sentait |
| nous | sentions |
| vous | sentiez |
| ils/elles | sentaient |
More on this: Imperfect (imparfait)
Passé simpleliterary past
| je (j’) | sentis |
|---|---|
| tu | sentis |
| il/elle/on | sentit |
| nous | sentîmes |
| vous | sentîtes |
| ils/elles | sentirent |
More on this: Passé simple: reading the narrative tense
Futur simplefuture
| je (j’) | sentirai |
|---|---|
| tu | sentiras |
| il/elle/on | sentira |
| nous | sentirons |
| vous | sentirez |
| ils/elles | sentiront |
More on this: Simple future (futur simple)
Passé composéperfect
| je (j’) | ai senti |
|---|---|
| tu | as senti |
| il/elle/on | a senti |
| nous | avons senti |
| vous | avez senti |
| ils/elles | ont senti |
More on this: Passé composé with avoir · Passé composé with être
Plus-que-parfaitpast perfect
| je (j’) | avais senti |
|---|---|
| tu | avais senti |
| il/elle/on | avait senti |
| nous | avions senti |
| vous | aviez senti |
| ils/elles | avaient senti |
More on this: Pluperfect (plus-que-parfait)
Futur antérieurfuture perfect
| je (j’) | aurai senti |
|---|---|
| tu | auras senti |
| il/elle/on | aura senti |
| nous | aurons senti |
| vous | aurez senti |
| ils/elles | auront senti |
More on this: Future perfect (futur antérieur)
Conditional
Conditionnel présentconditional
| je (j’) | sentirais |
|---|---|
| tu | sentirais |
| il/elle/on | sentirait |
| nous | sentirions |
| vous | sentiriez |
| ils/elles | sentiraient |
More on this: The conditional
Conditionnel passéconditional perfect
| je (j’) | aurais senti |
|---|---|
| tu | aurais senti |
| il/elle/on | aurait senti |
| nous | aurions senti |
| vous | auriez senti |
| ils/elles | auraient senti |
More on this: The conditional
Subjunctive
Subjonctif présentpresent subjunctive
| je (j’) | sente |
|---|---|
| tu | sentes |
| il/elle/on | sente |
| nous | sentions |
| vous | sentiez |
| ils/elles | sentent |
More on this: Subjunctive: the forms
Subjonctif passéperfect subjunctive
| je (j’) | aie senti |
|---|---|
| tu | aies senti |
| il/elle/on | ait senti |
| nous | ayons senti |
| vous | ayez senti |
| ils/elles | aient senti |
More on this: The subjunctive in the past
Imperative
Impératifaffirmative imperative
| tu | sens |
|---|---|
| nous | sentons |
| vous | sentez |
More on this: Imperative: the three forms
Impératif négatifnegative imperative
| tu | ne sens pas |
|---|---|
| nous | ne sentons pas |
| vous | ne sentez pas |
More on this: Imperative: the three forms
Non-finite forms
Infinitif et participesinfinitive, gerund, participle
| infinitif | sentir |
|---|---|
| participe présent | sentant |
| participe passé | senti |
More on this: Irregular past participles · The gérondif: en parlant
Example sentences from the course
Every sentence comes from this course’s word lists or grammar topics. The verb form is highlighted, and the line below says which tense and person it is.
La sellerie sent le cuir.The tack room smells of leather.
sent — Présent · il/elle/on
La vessie se remplit sans qu’on le sente au début.At first nobody notices the bladder filling up.
sente — Subjonctif présent · je (j’); Subjonctif présent · il/elle/on
Il sait sentir l’ambiance et se taire au bon moment.He knows how to read the room and keep quiet at the right moment.
sentir — infinitif
J’ai senti le froid tout de suite.I felt the cold straight away.
senti — participe passé
Le shampoing sent la pomme.The shampoo smells of apple.
sent — Présent · il/elle/on
La chambre sent le renfermé.The room smells musty.
sent — Présent · il/elle/on
Quick practice
5 gaps, first from the example sentences above, then from the table. Every answer counts towards your reviews.
Keep going
Verbs with the same pattern
Related grammar topics
The forms are calculated from the rules of the language — twice, in two independent ways — and checked against every hand-written form in this course. The example sentences are the course’s own.