All verbs

/sɛʁe/to gripB1

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
serrons
Presentprésentfollows the rule

Singular — the short stem

serr-+-e -es -e

Presentprésentfollows the rule

Plural — the nous stem

serr-+-ons -ez -ent

Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

serr-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

serr-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

serr-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
serrer
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

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

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

serrer-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

serrer

Past participle
serré

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

serré

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

serré

Conjugation

présent
Ije serre/ʒə sɛʁ/I grip
youtu serres/ty sɛʁ/you grip
he/sheil serre/il sɛʁ/he grips
wenous serrons/nu sɛʁɔ̃/we grip
youvous serrez/vu sɛʁe/you grip
theyils serrent/il sɛʁ/they grip

Examples

  • Je lui ai serré la main.

    /ʒə lɥi e sɛ.ʁe la mɛ̃/

    I shook his hand.

  • Ces chaussures serrent.

    /se ʃo.syʁ sɛʁ/

    These shoes are tight.

  • Serre bien.

    /sɛʁ bjɛ̃/

    Grip it firmly.

Set phrases

  • serrer la main

    to shake hands

  • serré

    tight

Notes

  • serrer la main is shaking hands — the standard French greeting between men and in professional settings. See saluer.

  • serrer dans ses bras is to hug. French has no single verb for it.