All verbs

/kuvʁiʁ/to coverB1

Family
Family 4 — `-frir` and `-vrir`, like group 1
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
couvrons
Presentprésentfollows the rule

Singular — the short stem

couvr-+-e -es -e

Presentprésentfollows the rule

Plural — the nous stem

couvr-+-ons -ez -ent

Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

couvr-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

couvr-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

couvr-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
couvrir
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

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

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

couvrir-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

couvrir

Past participle
couvert

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

couvert

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

couvert

Conjugation

présent
Ije couvre/ʒə kuvʁ/I cover
youtu couvres/ty kuvʁ/you cover
he/sheil couvre/il kuvʁ/he covers
wenous couvrons/nu kuvʁɔ̃/we cover
youvous couvrez/vu kuvʁe/you cover
theyils couvrent/il kuvʁ/they cover

Examples

  • Je couvre la table.

    /ʒə kuvʁ la tabl/

    I cover the table.

  • La neige couvre le sol.

    /la nɛʒ kuvʁ lə sɔl/

    Snow covers the ground.

  • Que couvres-tu ?

    /kə kuvʁ.ty/

    What are you covering?

Notes

  • It conjugates like an -er verb despite ending in -ir: je couvre, not je couvris. Same family as ouvrir and offrir. See verbes-cinq-familles.