Skip to content
fluentbyear

FRENCH VERB

aimer

to like

  • #18 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: aimé
  • Present participle: aimant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I like
  2. tu you like
  3. il, elle, on he/she likes
  4. nous we like
  5. vous you like
  6. ils, elles they like

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I liked
  2. tu you liked
  3. il, elle, on he/she liked
  4. nous we liked
  5. vous you liked
  6. ils, elles they liked

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to like
  2. tu you used to like
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to like
  4. nous we used to like
  5. vous you used to like
  6. ils, elles they used to like

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will like
  2. tu you will like
  3. il, elle, on he/she will like
  4. nous we will like
  5. vous you will like
  6. ils, elles they will like

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would like
  2. tu you would like
  3. il, elle, on he/she would like
  4. nous we would like
  5. vous you would like
  6. ils, elles they would like

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I like
  2. tu (that) you like
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she like
  4. nous (that) we like
  5. vous (that) you like
  6. ils, elles (that) they like

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu like!
  2. nous like! (let’s)
  3. vous like! (plural, or formal)

How to use aimer

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    J'aime beaucoup ce quartier, il est calme.

    I really like this neighbourhood, it's quiet.

  2. Past

    Tu as aimé le film ?

    Did you like the film?

  3. Imperfect

    Elle aimait se promener le long de la Seine.

    She liked walking along the Seine.

  4. Future

    Vous aimerez ce restaurant, c'est sûr.

    You'll like this restaurant, for sure.

  5. Conditional

    J'aimerais réserver une table pour ce soir.

    I'd like to book a table for tonight.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Je ne suis pas sûr qu'il aime les huîtres.

    I'm not sure he likes oysters.

  7. Imperative

    Aime ce que tu fais, c'est le plus important.

    Love what you do, that's the most important thing.

Good to know

  • Aimer bien is to like someone; aimer alone, said to a person, is to love.
  • J'aimerais is I would like, as polite as je voudrais.

Where you hear aimer

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

French · Beginner Level 1

  • J'aime la musique. I like music.
  • J'ai beaucoup aimé Paris. I liked Paris a lot.
  • Tu vas aimer Marseille. You're going to like Marseille.

French · Beginner Level 2

  • J'aime beaucoup Lyon. I like Lyon a lot.
  • J'ai aimé le Vieux Lyon. I liked Old Lyon.
  • Tu vas aimer ce film. You're going to like this film.
20
A Rainy Afternoon

Beginner Level 1 · j'aime · je n'aime pas · tu aimes · vous aimez

Needs a subscription 25
The Boat Trip

Beginner Level 1 · Tu as aimé ?

Needs a subscription 28
One Day...

Beginner Level 2 · j'aimerais · tu aimerais

Needs a subscription

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -er verb.