se tromper — French conjugation

to make a mistake

RegularReflexivetromper → se tromper

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 trompe
tute trompes
il/ellese trompe
nousnous trompons
vousvous trompez
ils/ellesse trompent

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 trompai
tute trompas
il/ellese trompa
nousnous trompâmes
vousvous trompâtes
ils/ellesse trompèrent

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 trompais
tute trompais
il/ellese trompait
nousnous trompions
vousvous trompiez
ils/ellesse trompaient

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 tromperais
tute tromperais
il/ellese tromperait
nousnous tromperions
vousvous tromperiez
ils/ellesse tromperaient

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 tromperai
tute tromperas
il/ellese trompera
nousnous tromperons
vousvous tromperez
ils/ellesse tromperont

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 trompe
tute trompes
il/ellese trompe
nousnous trompions
vousvous trompiez
ils/ellesse trompent

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 trompasse
tute trompasses
il/ellese trompât
nousnous trompassions
vousvous trompassiez
ils/ellesse trompassent