Irregular French verbs

Il n’a pas pu venir.He wasn’t able to come.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il put

Elle a voulu partir tôt.She wanted to set off early.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il voulut

J’ai dû rentrer à pied.I had to walk home.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il dut

Je n’ai jamais su son nom.I never knew his name.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il sut

Il a vu la lumière de loin.He saw the light from a long way off.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il vit

J’ai reçu ta lettre hier.I got your letter yesterday.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il reçut

Il a aperçu une lumière au loin.He caught sight of a light in the distance.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il aperçut

Il a fallu attendre une heure.We had to wait an hour.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il fallut

Il a plu toute la nuit.It rained all night.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il plut

Cela n’a rien valu.It wasn’t worth anything.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il valut

Son discours nous a émus.His speech moved us.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il émut

Ils ont conçu un nouveau modèle.They designed a new model.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il conçut

Le résultat m’a déçu.The result disappointed me.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il déçut

Il a tenu sa promesse.He kept his promise.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il tint

Elle a obtenu la place.She got the job.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il obtint

Cette maison a appartenu à ma famille.This house used to belong to my family.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il appartint

Je n’ai pas retenu son nom.His name didn’t stick.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il retint

Ils ont soutenu le projet.They backed the project.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il soutint

Il est venu sans prévenir.He turned up without warning.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il vint

Elle est revenue le lendemain.She came back the next day.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il revint

Il est devenu médecin.He became a doctor.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il devint

Préviens-moi si tu es en retard.Let me know if you’re running late.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il prévint

Je me souviens de ce jour.I remember that day.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il se souvint

Ils ont battu le record.They broke the record.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il battit

Ils ont abattu le vieil arbre.They cut down the old tree.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il abattit

Il a rendu le livre à la bibliothèque.He took the book back to the library.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il rendit

Je n’ai rien entendu.I didn’t hear a thing.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il entendit

Nous avons attendu une heure.We waited for an hour.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il attendit

Elle est descendue à la station suivante.She got off at the next stop.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il descendit

J’ai perdu mes clés.I’ve lost my keys.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il perdit

Personne n’a répondu.Nobody answered.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il répondit

Ils ont vendu la maison en mars.They sold the house in March.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il vendit

Il a défendu son point de vue.He defended his point of view.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il défendit

Il prétend n’avoir rien vu.He claims he didn’t see anything.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il prétendit

Elle m’a tendu la main.She held out her hand to me.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il tendit

Je confonds toujours les deux frères.I always mix up the two brothers.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il confondit

Le prix ne correspond pas à la qualité.The price doesn’t reflect the quality.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il correspondit

Le chien n’a jamais mordu personne.The dog has never bitten anyone.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il mordit

Ils ont rompu le silence.They broke the silence.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il rompit

Ne m’interrompez pas.Don’t interrupt me.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il interrompit

Je l’ai connu à l’école.I got to know him at school.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il connut

Le livre a paru en mars.The book came out in March.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il parut

Les clés ont disparu.The keys have disappeared.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il disparut

La population a crû lentement.The population grew slowly.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il crût

Cela a accru la confusion.That only added to the confusion.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il accrut

Nous avons bu un café ensemble.We had a coffee together.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il but

Elle a lu le livre en deux jours.She read the book in two days.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il lut

Personne ne l’a cru.Nobody believed him.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il crut

Le film nous a plu.We liked the film.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il plut

Il a tu la vérité.He kept the truth to himself.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il tut

Elle a vécu dix ans à Lyon.She lived in Lyon for ten years.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il vécut

Personne n’a survécu à l’accident.Nobody survived the accident.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il survécut

Il a couru jusqu’au bout.He ran all the way to the end.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il courut

Nous avons parcouru trois cents kilomètres.We covered three hundred kilometres.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il parcourut

Sa remarque m’a déplu.I didn’t care for his remark.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il déplut

Nous avons résolu le problème.We solved the problem.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il résolut

L’équipe a vaincu la peur.The team overcame their fear.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il vainquit

Tu ne m’as pas convaincu.You haven’t convinced me.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il convainquit

J’ai relu la lettre trois fois.I read the letter three times over.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il relut

On l’a élu au premier tour.He was elected in the first round.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il élut

Les voisins les ont secourus.The neighbours came to their rescue.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il secourut

Tout le monde a accouru.Everyone came running.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il accourut

Ils ont conclu un accord.They reached an agreement.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il conclut

On ne l’a pas exclu.He wasn’t excluded.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il exclut

Elle a cousu le bouton elle-même.She sewed the button on herself.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il cousit

Le café est moulu trop fin.The coffee is ground too fine.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il moulut

Il était vêtu de noir.He was dressed in black.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il vêtit

Il a pris le train de sept heures.He took the seven o’clock train.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il prit

J’ai appris le français à l’école.I learnt French at school.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il apprit

Je n’ai rien compris.I didn’t understand a thing.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il comprit

Sa réponse m’a surpris.His answer surprised me.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il surprit

Il a repris son travail lundi.He went back to work on Monday.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il reprit

Ils ont entrepris un long voyage.They set out on a long journey.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il entreprit

J’ai mis les clés sur la table.I put the keys on the table.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il mit

On ne m’a pas permis d’entrer.They wouldn’t let me in.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il permit

Tu me l’avais promis.You had promised me.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il promit

Nous avons remis la réunion à mardi.We’ve moved the meeting to Tuesday.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il remit

Il a admis son erreur.He admitted his mistake.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il admit

Elle a soumis le dossier hier.She submitted the paperwork yesterday.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il soumit

Il a acquis une bonne réputation.He has earned himself a good reputation.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il acquit

Ils ont conquis le marché en deux ans.They conquered the market in two years.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il conquit

Nous nous sommes assis au fond.We sat down at the back.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il assit

Ils sont partis à l’aube.They set off at dawn.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il partit

Elle est sortie sans manteau.She went out without a coat.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il sortit

J’ai mal dormi cette nuit.I slept badly last night.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il dormit

On nous a servi le café.We were served coffee.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il servit

J’ai senti le froid tout de suite.I felt the cold straight away.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il sentit

Il nous a menti deux fois.He lied to us twice.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il mentit

J’ai suivi la route jusqu’au village.I followed the road as far as the village.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il suivit

Ils ont poursuivi le travail.They carried on with the work.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il poursuivit

Tout le monde a ri.Everyone laughed.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il rit

Elle m’a souri de loin.She smiled at me from across the room.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il sourit

Une heure a suffi.An hour was enough.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il suffit

Nous avons cueilli des pommes.We picked apples.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il cueillit

Ils nous ont bien accueillis.They made us very welcome.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il accueillit

Ils ont fui la ville.They fled the city.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il fuit

Cela a nui à sa réputation.It damaged his reputation.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il nuisit

L’eau a bouilli trop longtemps.The water boiled for too long.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il bouillit

Il a haï cette ville pendant des années.He hated this town for years.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il haït

Elle est née en juin.She was born in June.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il naquit

Il a conduit toute la nuit.He drove all night.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il conduisit

Elle a traduit le texte en allemand.She translated the text into German.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il traduisit

Ils ont construit la maison eux-mêmes.They built the house themselves.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il construisit

L’usine a produit mille pièces.The factory turned out a thousand units.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il produisit

Le feu a détruit la grange.The fire destroyed the barn.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il détruisit

Le pain a cuit trop longtemps.The bread was left in the oven too long.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il cuisit

Il a dit la vérité.He told the truth.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il dit

Elle a écrit trois pages.She wrote three pages.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il écrivit

Il a décrit la scène en détail.He described the scene in detail.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il décrivit

Je me suis inscrit au cours.I signed up for the course.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il inscrivit

On a interdit le stationnement ici.Parking has been banned here.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il interdit

Personne n’avait prédit ce résultat.Nobody had predicted this result.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il prédit

Il a ouvert la fenêtre.He opened the window.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il ouvrit

La neige a couvert le jardin.The snow covered the garden.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il couvrit

Nous avons découvert un petit café.We came across a little café.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il découvrit

Elle m’a offert un livre.She gave me a book.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il offrit

Il a souffert en silence.He suffered in silence.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il souffrit

Nous avons peint la cuisine en blanc.We painted the kitchen white.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il peignit

Tu as éteint la lumière?Did you switch the light off?

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il éteignit

Nous avons atteint le sommet.We reached the summit.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il atteignit

Je crains le pire.I fear the worst.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il craignit

Je n’ai pas pu le joindre.I couldn’t get hold of him.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il joignit

Personne ne l’a plaint.Nobody felt sorry for him.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il plaignit

Je vous rejoins dans dix minutes.I’ll join you in ten minutes.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il rejoignit

Elle s’est teint les cheveux.She has dyed her hair.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il teignit

Il a feint la surprise.He feigned surprise.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il feignit

Ils ont restreint l’accès.They restricted access.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il restreignit

Le contrat l’astreint au silence.The contract binds him to silence.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il astreignit

Elle a défait sa valise.She unpacked her suitcase.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il défit

La réponse ne m’a pas satisfait.The answer didn’t satisfy me.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il satisfit

On a extrait la phrase du rapport.The sentence was taken from the report.

Le bruit m’a distrait.The noise distracted me.

Il faut soustraire les frais.You have to deduct the costs.

Elle est morte en hiver.She died in the winter.

Passé simple, used only in written narrative: il mourut