All verbs

/pʁɛse/to squeezeB1

Family
Group 1 — regular `-er`
Takes
a direct object — Takes a direct object; reflexive se presser for hurrying

Build map — what to memorise

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

The nous form
pressons
Presentprésentfollows the rule

Singular — the short stem

press-+-e -es -e

Presentprésentfollows the rule

Plural — the nous stem

press-+-ons -ez -ent

Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

press-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

press-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

press-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
presser
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

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

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

presser-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

presser

Past participle
pressé

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

pressé

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

pressé

Conjugation

présent
Ije presse/ʒə pʁɛs/I squeeze
youtu presses/ty pʁɛs/you squeeze
he/sheil presse/il pʁɛs/he squeezes
wenous pressons/nu pʁɛsɔ̃/we squeeze
youvous pressez/vu pʁɛse/you squeeze
theyils pressent/il pʁɛs/they squeeze

Examples

  • Presse-toi.

    /pʁɛs.twa/

    Hurry up.

  • Je presse le citron.

    /ʒə pʁɛs lə si.tʁɔ̃/

    I squeeze the lemon.

  • Rien ne presse.

    /ʁi.ɛ̃ nə pʁɛs/

    There's no rush.

Set phrases

  • être pressé

    to be in a hurry

  • Rien ne presse

    There's no rush

Notes

  • Je suis pressé means "I'm in a hurry" — not "I'm pressed". One of the most useful everyday phrases.

  • Rien ne presse is "there's no rush" — the reassuring reply.