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French · Verb · #324 most common

contraindre

to compel
to constrain

Irregular3rd ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Présent

Current actions, habits, and general truths.

jecontraints
tucontraints
il/ellecontraint
nouscontraignons
vouscontraignez
ils/ellescontraignent

Je contraints mes enfants à faire leurs devoirs.

I compel my children to do their homework.

Elle contraint son équipe à respecter les délais.

She compels her team to meet the deadlines.

2.

Passé Composé

Completed past actions with present relevance.

jeai contraint
tuas contraint
il/ellea contraint
nousavons contraint
vousavez contraint
ils/ellesont contraint

Ils ont contraint le suspect à avouer.

They compelled the suspect to confess.

Nous avons contraint les participants à signer un accord.

We compelled the participants to sign an agreement.

3.

Imparfait

Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.

jecontraignais
tucontraignais
il/ellecontraignait
nouscontraignions
vouscontraigniez
ils/ellescontraignaient

Je contraignais mes amis à venir avec moi.

I was compelling my friends to come with me.

Elle contraignait souvent ses collègues à travailler tard.

She often compelled her colleagues to work late.

4.

Futur Simple

Future events, promises, and formal predictions.

jecontraindrai
tucontraindras
il/ellecontraindra
nouscontraindrons
vouscontraindrez
ils/ellescontraindront

Je contraindrai les enfants à ranger leurs jouets.

I will compel the children to tidy up their toys.

Ils contraindront les employés à suivre la formation.

They will compel the employees to attend the training.

5.

Conditionnel Présent

Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.

jecontraindrais
tucontraindrais
il/ellecontraindrait
nouscontraindrions
vouscontraindriez
ils/ellescontraindraient

Je contraindrais mes voisins à respecter le silence.

I would compel my neighbors to respect the silence.

Elle contraindrait son frère à l'aider.

She would compel her brother to help her.

6.

Subjonctif Présent

Doubt, desire, necessity, and emotion in subordinate clauses.

jecontraigne
tucontraignes
il/ellecontraigne
nouscontraignions
vouscontraigniez
ils/ellescontraignent

Il faut que je contraigne mes élèves à étudier.

It is necessary that I compel my students to study.

Je souhaite qu'elle contraigne son équipe à travailler ensemble.

I wish that she compels her team to work together.

7.

Plus-que-parfait

Actions completed before another past action.

jeavais contraint
tuavais contraint
il/elleavait contraint
nousavions contraint
vousaviez contraint
ils/ellesavaient contraint

J'avais contraint mes amis à partir plus tôt.

I had compelled my friends to leave earlier.

Ils avaient contraint les enfants à rester à l'intérieur.

They had compelled the children to stay indoors.

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "contraindre" regular or irregular in French?
"contraindre" is an irregular French verb. It does not follow the standard 3rd conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "contraindre" in the present tense?
In the Présent, "contraindre" conjugates as: contraints, contraints, contraignons, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "contraindre" in French?
In the Passé Composé, "contraindre" conjugates as: ai contraint, as contraint, avons contraint, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "contraindre" in French?
"contraindre" (to compel, to constrain) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.