se modifier — French conjugation

to change, alter

RegularReflexivemodifier → se modifier

Indicative

Present (Présent) Regular

Use the présent for habits, what is true now, and what is about to happen soon. A single set of endings covers what English often splits into “I speak” and “I am speaking”.

Elle parle arabe et français.

PronounFrench
jeme modifie
tute modifies
il/ellese modifie
nousnous modifions
vousvous modifiez
ils/ellesse modifient

Simple past (Passé simple) Regular

The passé simple narrates completed past events in a literary or very formal style. In everyday conversation people use the passé composé instead, so you mostly meet this form in books and journalism.

Ils virent le roi s'approcher.

PronounFrench
jeme modifiai
tute modifias
il/ellese modifia
nousnous modifiâmes
vousvous modifiâtes
ils/ellesse modifièrent

Imperfect (Imparfait) Regular

The imparfait describes ongoing or repeated past actions and sets the background — how things were, what used to happen, weather, feelings. The passé composé, by contrast, marks single completed events.

Quand j'étais petit, j'allais souvent à la piscine.

PronounFrench
jeme modifiais
tute modifiais
il/ellese modifiait
nousnous modifiions
vousvous modifiiez
ils/ellesse modifiaient

Conditional (Conditionnel) Regular

The conditionnel is for polite questions and requests, “would”-type hypotheticals, and what someone said would happen. It is also the usual consequent clause in si + imparfait → conditionnel patterns.

Pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?

PronounFrench
jeme modifierais
tute modifierais
il/ellese modifierait
nousnous modifierions
vousvous modifieriez
ils/ellesse modifieraient

Future (Futur) Regular

The futur is for future plans and objective predictions. In speech, aller + infinitive is often clearer for the immediate future, while the simple future is common for facts further ahead or in writing.

Demain, nous dînerons chez eux.

PronounFrench
jeme modifierai
tute modifieras
il/ellese modifiera
nousnous modifierons
vousvous modifierez
ils/ellesse modifieront

Subjunctive

Present subjunctive (Subjonctif présent) Regular

The present subjunctive appears in subordinate clauses after desire, doubt, fear, need, and many impersonals, usually when the subject of the subordinate is different. Learn common triggers: il faut que, je veux que, je doute que…

Il faut qu'il parte avant midi.

PronounFrench
jeme modifie
tute modifies
il/ellese modifie
nousnous modifiions
vousvous modifiiez
ils/ellesse modifient

Imperfect subjunctive (Subjonctif imparfait) Regular

The imparfait du subjonctif is a literary and formal past subjunctive. In modern speech, the present subjunctive usually replaces it for the same meaning.

Bien qu'il fût fatigué, il continua.

PronounFrench
jeme modifiasse
tute modifiasses
il/ellese modifiât
nousnous modifiassions
vousvous modifiassiez
ils/ellesse modifiassent