All verbs

/kɔ̃pʁɑ̃dʁ/to understandA1

Family
Family 5 — boot verbs
Takes
a direct object — Takes a direct object

Build map — what to memorise

These three pieces are learnt; every other tense is built from them.

The nous form
comprenons
Presentprésentlearn it whole

Singular — the short stem

Presentprésent1 exception(s)

Boot verb — ils takes the singular stem back

compren-+-ons -ez -ent

  • ils comprennentthe rule said comprenent
Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

compren-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

compren-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

comprenn-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
comprendre
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

comprendr-+-ai -as -a -ons -ez -ont

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

comprendr-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

comprendre

Past participle
compris

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

compris

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

compris

Conjugation

présent
Ije comprends/ʒə kɔ̃pʁɑ̃/I understand
youtu comprends/ty kɔ̃pʁɑ̃/you understand
he/sheil comprend/il kɔ̃pʁɑ̃/he understands
wenous comprenons/nu kɔ̃pʁənɔ̃/we understand
youvous comprenez/vu kɔ̃pʁəne/you understand
theyils comprennent/il kɔ̃pʁɛn/they understand

Examples

  • Je comprends le français.

    /ʒə kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃ lə fʁɑ̃.sɛ/

    I understand French.

  • Elle comprend la question.

    /ɛl kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃ la kɛs.tjɔ̃/

    She understands the question.

  • Est-ce que tu comprends le français ?

    /ɛs kə ty kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃ lə fʁɑ̃.sɛ/

    Do you understand French?

Notes

  • It also means to include: Le prix comprend le petit-déjeuner — the price includes breakfast. That is where y compris ("including") comes from.

  • Built on prendre, so it conjugates the same way: je comprends, nous comprenons, j'ai compris.