craindre
to fear
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 | crains |
| tu | crains |
| il/elle | craint |
| nous | craignons |
| vous | craignez |
| ils/elles | craignent |
Je crains les araignées.
I fear spiders.
Elle craint de parler en public.
She fears speaking in public.
2.Passé Composé
Passé Composé
Completed past actions with present relevance.
| je | ai craint |
| tu | as craint |
| il/elle | a craint |
| nous | avons craint |
| vous | avez craint |
| ils/elles | ont craint |
Nous avons craint le pire pendant la tempête.
We feared the worst during the storm.
Ils ont craint de ne pas réussir l'examen.
They feared not passing the exam.
3.Imparfait
Imparfait
Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.
| je | craignais |
| tu | craignais |
| il/elle | craignait |
| nous | craignions |
| vous | craigniez |
| ils/elles | craignaient |
Quand j'étais enfant, je craignais l'obscurité.
When I was a child, I feared the dark.
Elle craignait toujours de décevoir ses parents.
She always feared disappointing her parents.
4.Futur Simple
Futur Simple
Future events, promises, and formal predictions.
| je | craindrai |
| tu | craindras |
| il/elle | craindra |
| nous | craindrons |
| vous | craindrez |
| ils/elles | craindront |
Je craindrai les conséquences de mes actions.
I will fear the consequences of my actions.
Ils craindront la réaction du public.
They will fear the public's reaction.
5.Conditionnel Présent
Conditionnel Présent
Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.
| je | craindrais |
| tu | craindrais |
| il/elle | craindrait |
| nous | craindrions |
| vous | craindriez |
| ils/elles | craindraient |
Je craindrais de prendre des risques inutiles.
I would fear taking unnecessary risks.
Elle craindrait de perdre son emploi.
She would fear losing her job.
6.Subjonctif Présent
Subjonctif Présent
Doubt, desire, necessity, and emotion in subordinate clauses.
| je | craigne |
| tu | craignes |
| il/elle | craigne |
| nous | craignions |
| vous | craigniez |
| ils/elles | craignent |
Il faut que je craigne les dangers de la route.
It is necessary that I fear the dangers of the road.
Bien qu'elle craigne l'échec, elle essaie quand même.
Although she fears failure, she tries anyway.
7.Plus-que-parfait
Plus-que-parfait
Actions completed before another past action.
| je | avais craint |
| tu | avais craint |
| il/elle | avait craint |
| nous | avions craint |
| vous | aviez craint |
| ils/elles | avaient craint |
J'avais craint que cela ne se produise.
I had feared that this would happen.
Ils avaient craint pour leur sécurité.
They had feared for their safety.
"craindre" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "craindre" regular or irregular in French?
- "craindre" is an irregular French verb. It does not follow the standard 3rd conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
- How do you conjugate "craindre" in the present tense?
- In the Présent, "craindre" conjugates as: crains, crains, craignons, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "craindre" in French?
- In the Passé Composé, "craindre" conjugates as: ai craint, as craint, avons craint, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "craindre" in French?
- "craindre" (to fear) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.