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FRENCH VERB

terminer

to finish

  • #326 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: terminé
  • Present participle: terminant

Conjugation

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

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

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

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

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

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

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

Future

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

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

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

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

Present subjunctive

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

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

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

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

How to use terminer

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

  1. Present

    Je termine à dix-huit heures ce soir.

    I finish at six tonight.

  2. Past

    Vous avez terminé ? Je peux débarrasser ?

    Have you finished? Can I clear the table?

  3. Imperfect

    Il terminait toujours ses devoirs avant le dîner.

    He always finished his homework before dinner.

  4. Future

    On terminera la peinture ce week-end.

    We'll finish the painting this weekend.

  5. Conditional

    Je terminerais plus vite avec un peu d'aide.

    I'd finish faster with a bit of help.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que je termine ce rapport avant midi.

    I have to finish this report before noon.

  7. Imperative

    Termine ton assiette avant le dessert.

    Finish your plate before dessert.

Good to know

  • Terminer and finir are the same; j'ai terminé or c'est terminé is I'm done.

Verbs like this one

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