All verbs

/kʁɛ̃dʁ/to fearB1

Family
Family 3 — two-stem `-re`
Takes
a direct object · que + subjunctive — Takes a direct object, or que + subjunctive

Build map — what to memorise

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

The nous form
craignons
Presentprésentfollows the rule

Singular — the short stem

crain-+-s -s -t

Presentprésentfollows the rule

Plural — the nous stem

craign-+-ons -ez -ent

Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

craign-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

craign-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

craign-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
craindre
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

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

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

craindr-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

craindre

Past participle
craint

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

craint

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

craint

Conjugation

présent
Ije crains/ʒə kʁɛ̃/I fear
youtu crains/ty kʁɛ̃/you fear
he/sheil craint/il kʁɛ̃/he fears
wenous craignons/nu kʁɛnjɔ̃/we fear
youvous craignez/vu kʁɛnje/you fear
theyils craignent/il kʁɛnj/they fear

Examples

  • Je crains qu'il ne soit trop tard.

    /ʒə kʁɛ̃ kil nə swa tʁo taʁ/

    I'm afraid it's too late.

  • Je crains le froid.

    /ʒə kʁɛ̃ lə fʁwa/

    I can't stand the cold.

  • Je ne crains rien.

    /ʒə nə kʁɛ̃ ʁjɛ̃/

    I'm not afraid of anything.

Set phrases

  • craindre que

    to fear that

Notes

  • That ne in Je crains qu'il ne soit trop tard is not a negative. It is the ne explétif, a leftover that appears after verbs of fearing and means nothing at all — the sentence is affirmative. Leaving it out is fine in speech.

  • More formal than avoir peur, which is what you would actually say day to day.