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FRENCH VERB

gêner

to bother, to embarrass

  • #307 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: gêné
  • Present participle: gênant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use gêner

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

  1. Present

    Ça vous gêne si j'ouvre la fenêtre ?

    Do you mind if I open the window?

  2. Past

    Sa remarque m'a gêné devant tout le monde.

    His remark embarrassed me in front of everyone.

  3. Imperfect

    Le bruit de la rue nous gênait pour dormir.

    The street noise made it hard for us to sleep.

  4. Future

    Ma valise ne gênera personne dans le couloir.

    My suitcase won't be in anyone's way in the corridor.

  5. Conditional

    Ça te gênerait de me prêter ta voiture ?

    Would you mind lending me your car?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Je ne veux pas que ma présence vous gêne.

    I don't want my being here to bother you.

  7. Imperative

    Ne te gêne pas, fais comme chez toi !

    Don't be shy, make yourself at home!

Good to know

  • Ça vous gêne si... ? is do you mind if... ? Je suis gêné is I'm embarrassed, not annoyed.

Verbs like this one

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