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FRENCH VERB

surveiller

to watch over, to keep an eye on

  • #457 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: surveillé
  • Present participle: surveillant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use surveiller

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

  1. Present

    Tu surveilles mon sac deux minutes ?

    Will you watch my bag for two minutes?

  2. Past

    Ma voisine a surveillé la maison pendant nos vacances.

    My neighbour kept an eye on the house during our holiday.

  3. Imperfect

    Le maître-nageur surveillait la plage depuis sa tour.

    The lifeguard was watching the beach from his tower.

  4. Future

    Je surveillerai les enfants pendant que tu te reposes.

    I'll watch the kids while you rest.

  5. Conditional

    Tu surveillerais la cuisson si je sors cinq minutes ?

    Would you keep an eye on the cooking if I pop out for five minutes?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que quelqu'un surveille le barbecue.

    Someone needs to keep an eye on the barbecue.

  7. Imperative

    Surveille ta sœur, elle est près de la piscine.

    Watch your sister, she's near the pool.

Good to know

  • Surveiller les enfants, surveiller la cuisson, surveiller sa ligne : watch the kids, the cooking, your figure.

Verbs like this one

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