All verbs

/ɡaʁde/to keepA2

Family
Group 1 — regular `-er`
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
gardons
Presentprésentfollows the rule

Singular — the short stem

gard-+-e -es -e

Presentprésentfollows the rule

Plural — the nous stem

gard-+-ons -ez -ent

Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

gard-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

gard-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

gard-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
garder
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

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

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

garder-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

garder

Past participle
gardé

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

gardé

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

gardé

Conjugation

présent
Ije garde/ʒə ɡaʁd/I keep
youtu gardes/ty ɡaʁd/you keep
he/sheil garde/il ɡaʁd/he keeps
wenous gardons/nu ɡaʁdɔ̃/we keep
youvous gardez/vu ɡaʁde/you keep
theyils gardent/il ɡaʁd/they keep

Examples

  • Gardez la monnaie.

    /ɡaʁ.de la mɔ.nɛ/

    Keep the change.

  • Je garde le livre.

    /ʒə ɡaʁd lə livʁ/

    I'm keeping the book.

  • Elle a gardé les enfants.

    /ɛl a ɡaʁ.de le.z‿ɑ̃.fɑ̃/

    She looked after the children.

Set phrases

  • garder la monnaie

    to keep the change

  • garder le calme

    to keep calm

Notes

  • It also means to look after: garder les enfants is babysitting, and un garde is a guard.

  • Gardez la monnaie is how you leave a tip — though tipping is optional in France, since service is included. See restaurant.