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FRENCH VERB

prévenir

to warn, to let know

  • #294 most used
  • Irregular -ir verb
  • Past participle: prévenu
  • Present participle: prévenant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use prévenir

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

  1. Present

    Je te préviens, le film est très long.

    I'm warning you, the film is very long.

  2. Past

    Tu as prévenu tes parents que tu rentrais tard ?

    Did you let your parents know you'd be back late?

  3. Imperfect

    Avant, il prévenait toujours quand il était en retard.

    He always used to let us know when he was late.

  4. Future

    Je vous préviendrai dès que le colis arrive.

    I'll let you know as soon as the parcel arrives.

  5. Conditional

    À ta place, je préviendrais le propriétaire tout de suite.

    In your place, I'd tell the landlord straight away.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que tu préviennes l'école ce matin.

    You have to let the school know this morning.

  7. Imperative

    Prévenez-moi si vous changez d'avis.

    Let me know if you change your mind.

Good to know

  • Prévenir goes like venir but takes avoir : j'ai prévenu. Je te préviens is I'm warning you.

Verbs like this one

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