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FRENCH VERB

consulter

to see (a doctor), to consult

  • #387 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: consulté
  • Present participle: consultant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use consulter

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

  1. Present

    Le médecin consulte le matin, sur rendez-vous.

    The doctor sees patients in the morning, by appointment.

  2. Past

    J'ai consulté un spécialiste pour mon genou.

    I saw a specialist about my knee.

  3. Imperfect

    Il consultait ses messages toutes les deux minutes.

    He checked his messages every two minutes.

  4. Future

    On consultera un avocat avant de signer.

    We'll consult a lawyer before signing.

  5. Conditional

    Je consulterais un dentiste pour cette douleur.

    I'd see a dentist about that pain.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que tu consultes si la fièvre continue.

    You need to see a doctor if the fever continues.

  7. Imperative

    Consultez les horaires avant de partir à la gare.

    Check the timetable before heading to the station.

Good to know

  • Consulter alone means to see a doctor : il faut consulter.

Verbs like this one

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