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French · Verb · #36 most common

devenir

to become


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.

jedeviens
tudeviens
il/elledevient
nousdevenons
vousdevenez
ils/ellesde viennent

Je deviens médecin cette année.

I am becoming a doctor this year.

Ils deviennent de plus en plus populaires.

They are becoming more and more popular.

2.

Passé Composé

Completed past actions with present relevance.

jesuis devenu(e)
tues devenu(e)
il/elleest devenu(e)
noussommes devenu(e)s
vousêtes devenu(e)(s)
ils/ellessont devenu(e)s

Elle est devenue artiste après ses études.

She became an artist after her studies.

Nous sommes devenus amis au collège.

We became friends in college.

3.

Imparfait

Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.

jedevenais
tudevenais
il/elledevenait
nousdevenions
vousdeveniez
ils/ellesdevenaient

Quand j'étais jeune, je devenais timide dans les grandes foules.

When I was young, I was becoming shy in large crowds.

Ils devenaient de plus en plus intéressés par la science.

They were becoming more and more interested in science.

4.

Futur Simple

Future events, promises, and formal predictions.

jedeviendrai
tudeviendras
il/elledeviendra
nousdeviendrons
vousdeviendrez
ils/ellesdeviendront

Je deviendrai chef cuisinier un jour.

I will become a chef one day.

Vous deviendrez des experts dans ce domaine.

You will become experts in this field.

5.

Conditionnel Présent

Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.

jedeviendrais
tudeviendrais
il/elledeviendrait
nousdeviendrions
vousdeviendriez
ils/ellesdeviendraient

Si j'avais le temps, je deviendrais écrivain.

If I had the time, I would become a writer.

Ils deviendraient heureux s'ils trouvaient un emploi.

They would become happy if they found a job.

6.

Subjonctif Présent

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

jedevienne
tudeviennes
il/elledevienne
nousdevenions
vousdeveniez
ils/ellesdeviennent

Il faut que tu deviennes plus confiant.

You need to become more confident.

Il est important qu'ils deviennent responsables.

It is important that they become responsible.

7.

Plus-que-parfait

Actions completed before another past action.

jeétais devenu(e)
tuétais devenu(e)
il/elleétait devenu(e)
nousétions devenus(es)
vousétiez devenus(es)
ils/ellesétaient devenus(es)

Avant de partir, j'avais déjà devenu un expert.

Before leaving, I had already become an expert.

Ils avaient déjà devenu célèbres avant l'âge de vingt ans.

They had already become famous before the age of twenty.

"devenir" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "devenir" regular or irregular in French?
"devenir" is an irregular French verb. It does not follow the standard 3rd conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "devenir" in the present tense?
In the Présent, "devenir" conjugates as: deviens, deviens, devenons, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "devenir" in French?
In the Passé Composé, "devenir" conjugates as: suis devenu(e), es devenu(e), sommes devenu(e)s, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "devenir" in French?
"devenir" (to become) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.