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French · Verb · #119 most common

couvrir

to cover


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.

jecouvre
tucouvres
il/ellecouvre
nouscouvrons
vouscouvrez
ils/ellescouvrent

Je couvre le gâteau avec du chocolat.

I cover the cake with chocolate.

Ils couvrent les fenêtres pour éviter la chaleur.

They cover the windows to avoid the heat.

2.

Passé Composé

Completed past actions with present relevance.

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

Elle a couvert le canapé avec une couverture.

She covered the sofa with a blanket.

Nous avons couvert le sol de fleurs.

We covered the floor with flowers.

3.

Imparfait

Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.

jecouvrais
tucouvrais
il/ellecouvrait
nouscouvrions
vouscouvriez
ils/ellescouvraient

Quand j'étais enfant, je couvrais mes jouets.

When I was a child, I covered my toys.

Ils couvraient toujours la table avant de manger.

They always covered the table before eating.

4.

Futur Simple

Future events, promises, and formal predictions.

jecouvrirai
tucouvriras
il/ellecouvrira
nouscouvrirons
vouscouvrirez
ils/ellescouvriront

Demain, je couvrirai le jardin de mulch.

Tomorrow, I will cover the garden with mulch.

Vous couvrirez les murs avec de la peinture.

You will cover the walls with paint.

5.

Conditionnel Présent

Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.

jecouvrirais
tucouvrirais
il/ellecouvrirait
nouscouvririons
vouscouvririez
ils/ellescouvriraient

Je couvrirais la voiture si elle était sale.

I would cover the car if it were dirty.

Ils couvriraient le projet s'ils avaient plus de temps.

They would cover the project if they had more time.

6.

Subjonctif Présent

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

jecouvre
tucouvres
il/ellecouvre
nouscouvrions
vouscouvriez
ils/ellescouvrent

Il faut que je couvre le livre avant de partir.

I need to cover the book before leaving.

Il est important qu'ils couvrent le sujet en profondeur.

It is important that they cover the topic in depth.

7.

Plus-que-parfait

Actions completed before another past action.

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

Avant de partir, j'avais couvert le sol de tapis.

Before leaving, I had covered the floor with rugs.

Ils avaient couvert les murs avant la fête.

They had covered the walls before the party.

"couvrir" in other languages

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