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FRENCH VERB

ouvrir

to open

  • #57 most used
  • Irregular -ir verb
  • Past participle: ouvert
  • Present participle: ouvrant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use ouvrir

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

  1. Present

    La boulangerie ouvre à sept heures.

    The bakery opens at seven.

  2. Past

    J'ai ouvert la fenêtre, il faisait trop chaud.

    I opened the window, it was too hot.

  3. Imperfect

    Les magasins ouvraient plus tard le lundi.

    The shops opened later on Mondays.

  4. Future

    Ils ouvriront un nouveau café en face.

    They'll open a new café opposite.

  5. Conditional

    Tu ouvrirais la porte ? J'ai les mains pleines.

    Would you open the door? My hands are full.

  6. Present subjunctive

    J'attends que la pharmacie ouvre.

    I'm waiting for the pharmacy to open.

  7. Imperative

    Ouvrez la bouche et dites ah.

    Open your mouth and say ah.

Good to know

  • Ouvrir goes like an -er verb in the present : j'ouvre, tu ouvres. C'est ouvert is it's open.

Where you hear ouvrir

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

French · Beginner Level 1

  • J'ouvre le livre. I'm opening the book.
  • J'ai ouvert mon cadeau. I opened my present.
  • Je vais ouvrir la porte. I'm going to open the door.

French · Beginner Level 2

  • La boulangerie ouvre à sept heures. The bakery opens at seven o'clock.
  • J'ai ouvert la fenêtre. I opened the window.
  • Un jour, je vais ouvrir mon école. One day, I'm going to open my school.
27
Happy Birthday!

Beginner Level 1 · Ouvre-le !

Needs a subscription 16
At the Doctor's

Beginner Level 2 · elle a ouvert

Needs a subscription 28
One Day...

Beginner Level 2 · ouvrir

Needs a subscription 2
A Letter from the Préfecture

Beginner Level 3 · Ouvrez-la ! · Ouvre-la ! · Ouvrez-le !

Free 5
English for Leo

Beginner Level 3 · ouvre ton livre

Needs a subscription 7
A Parcel for Chicago

Beginner Level 3 · je l'ouvrirai

Needs a subscription 10
Thirty!

Beginner Level 3 · Ouvre-le !

Needs a subscription 17
Oysters at the Market

Beginner Level 3 · Je vous les ouvre.

Needs a subscription 30
Opening Day

Beginner Level 3 · j'ouvre

Needs a subscription

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: irregular -ir verb.