comprendre
to understand
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Présent
Présent
Current actions, habits, and general truths.
| je | comprends |
| tu | comprends |
| il/elle | comprend |
| nous | comprenons |
| vous | comprenez |
| ils/elles | comprennent |
Je comprends bien le français.
I understand French well.
Tu comprends ce que je veux dire.
You understand what I mean.
2.Passé Composé
Passé Composé
Completed past actions with present relevance.
| je | ai compris |
| tu | as compris |
| il/elle | a compris |
| nous | avons compris |
| vous | avez compris |
| ils/elles | ont compris |
Elle a compris la leçon rapidement.
She understood the lesson quickly.
Nous avons compris le problème.
We understood the problem.
3.Imparfait
Imparfait
Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.
| je | comprenais |
| tu | comprenais |
| il/elle | comprenait |
| nous | comprenions |
| vous | compreniez |
| ils/elles | comprenaient |
Quand j'étais jeune, je comprenais tout.
When I was young, I understood everything.
Ils comprenaient les instructions facilement.
They understood the instructions easily.
4.Futur Simple
Futur Simple
Future events, promises, and formal predictions.
| je | comprendrai |
| tu | comprendras |
| il/elle | comprendra |
| nous | comprendreons |
| vous | comprendrez |
| ils/elles | comprendront |
Demain, je comprendrai ce que tu veux dire.
Tomorrow, I will understand what you mean.
Vous comprendrez bientôt la situation.
You will soon understand the situation.
5.Conditionnel Présent
Conditionnel Présent
Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.
| je | comprendrais |
| tu | comprendrais |
| il/elle | comprendrait |
| nous | comprendrions |
| vous | comprendriez |
| ils/elles | comprendraient |
Je comprendrais mieux si tu parlais plus lentement.
I would understand better if you spoke more slowly.
Nous comprendrions s'ils expliquaient clairement.
We would understand if they explained clearly.
6.Subjonctif Présent
Subjonctif Présent
Doubt, desire, necessity, and emotion in subordinate clauses.
| je | comprenne |
| tu | comprennes |
| il/elle | comprenne |
| nous | comprenions |
| vous | compreniez |
| ils/elles | comprennent |
Il faut que je comprenne les règles.
It is necessary that I understand the rules.
Bien que tu comprennes, il y a encore des doutes.
Although you understand, there are still doubts.
7.Plus-que-parfait
Plus-que-parfait
Actions completed before another past action.
| je | avais compris |
| tu | avais compris |
| il/elle | avait compris |
| nous | avions compris |
| vous | aviez compris |
| ils/elles | avaient compris |
Avant de partir, j'avais compris la situation.
Before leaving, I had understood the situation.
Ils avaient compris la nécessité de changer.
They had understood the need to change.
"comprendre" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "comprendre" regular or irregular in French?
- "comprendre" is an irregular French verb. It does not follow the standard 3rd conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
- How do you conjugate "comprendre" in the present tense?
- In the Présent, "comprendre" conjugates as: comprends, comprends, comprenons, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "comprendre" in French?
- In the Passé Composé, "comprendre" conjugates as: ai compris, as compris, avons compris, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "comprendre" in French?
- "comprendre" (to understand) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.