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FRENCH VERB

contrôler

to check, to control

  • #440 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: contrôlé
  • Present participle: contrôlant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use contrôler

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

  1. Present

    On contrôle les billets à l'entrée du quai.

    They check tickets at the entrance to the platform.

  2. Past

    La police a contrôlé mes papiers à la frontière.

    The police checked my papers at the border.

  3. Imperfect

    Un agent contrôlait chaque sac à l'entrée du stade.

    An officer was checking every bag at the stadium entrance.

  4. Future

    Le mécanicien contrôlera les freins demain matin.

    The mechanic will check the brakes tomorrow morning.

  5. Conditional

    Tu contrôlerais mieux la voiture avec des pneus neufs.

    You'd control the car better with new tyres.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que je contrôle ma respiration avant de parler.

    I need to control my breathing before speaking.

  7. Imperative

    Contrôlez la date de votre passeport avant de réserver.

    Check your passport's date before booking.

Good to know

  • Un contrôleur checks tickets on the train; un contrôle at school is a test.
  • Se contrôler is to keep your temper.

Verbs like this one

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