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French · Verb · #547 most common

tenter

to try
to attempt

Regular1st ending

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

1.

Présent

Current actions, habits, and general truths.

jetente
tutentes
il/elletente
noustentons
voustentez
ils/ellestentent

Je tente de finir mes devoirs avant le dîner.

I am attempting to finish my homework before dinner.

Ils tentent de résoudre le problème ensemble.

They are attempting to solve the problem together.

2.

Passé Composé

Completed past actions with present relevance.

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

Elle a tenté de parler en public pour la première fois.

She attempted to speak in public for the first time.

Nous avons tenté de comprendre la situation.

We attempted to understand the situation.

3.

Imparfait

Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.

jetentais
tutentais
il/elletentait
noustentions
voustentiez
ils/ellestentaient

Quand j'étais jeune, je tentais toujours de gagner des compétitions.

When I was young, I always attempted to win competitions.

Ils tentaient de s'entraîner chaque jour.

They were attempting to train every day.

4.

Futur Simple

Future events, promises, and formal predictions.

jetenterai
tutenteras
il/elletentera
noustenterons
voustenterez
ils/ellestenteront

Demain, je tenterai de finir ce projet.

Tomorrow, I will attempt to finish this project.

Elle tentera de trouver un nouvel emploi.

She will attempt to find a new job.

5.

Conditionnel Présent

Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.

jetenterais
tutenterais
il/elletenterait
noustenterions
voustenteriez
ils/ellestenteraient

Je tenterais de l'aider si j'avais le temps.

I would attempt to help him if I had the time.

Nous tenterions de voyager cet été.

We would attempt to travel this summer.

6.

Subjonctif Présent

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

jetente
tutentes
il/elletente
noustentions
voustentiez
ils/ellestentent

Il faut que je tente de rester calme.

It is necessary that I attempt to stay calm.

Bien qu'il tente de réussir, il doit travailler plus dur.

Although he attempts to succeed, he must work harder.

7.

Plus-que-parfait

Actions completed before another past action.

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

Avant de partir, j'avais tenté de tout organiser.

Before leaving, I had attempted to organize everything.

Ils avaient tenté de résoudre le conflit avant qu'il ne s'aggrave.

They had attempted to resolve the conflict before it worsened.

"tenter" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "tenter" regular or irregular in French?
"tenter" is a regular 1st verb in French. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for 1st verbs.
How do you conjugate "tenter" in the present tense?
In the Présent, "tenter" conjugates as: tente, tentes, tentons, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "tenter" in French?
In the Passé Composé, "tenter" conjugates as: ai tenté, as tenté, avons tenté, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "tenter" in French?
"tenter" (to try, to attempt) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.