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FRENCH VERB

compter

to count, to intend

  • #107 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: compté
  • Present participle: comptant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use compter

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

  1. Present

    Je compte rester trois nuits, c'est possible ?

    I'm planning to stay three nights, is that possible?

  2. Past

    J'ai compté la monnaie deux fois, il manque dix euros.

    I counted the change twice, ten euros are missing.

  3. Imperfect

    On comptait sur toi pour le dessert !

    We were counting on you for dessert!

  4. Future

    Je compterai les points, vous jouez.

    I'll keep score, you play.

  5. Conditional

    Je compterais plutôt deux heures de route, avec les bouchons.

    I'd allow two hours' drive instead, with the traffic.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que tu comptes tes jours de congé avant de réserver.

    You need to count your days off before booking.

  7. Imperative

    Compte jusqu'à dix et respire.

    Count to ten and breathe.

Good to know

  • Compter + infinitive is to intend to : je compte partir en juin.
  • Compter sur quelqu'un is to count on someone.

Verbs like this one

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