Commencer — to start | French Verb Chart
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📚 This is the overview. « commencer » is taught level by level — pick your CEFR level below for a full lesson (explanation, pronunciation, exercises & games).
French Verb Chartlearnfrench.co
Commencer›to start
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Present
- je commenceI start
- tu commencesyou start
- il / elle commencehe / she starts
- nous commençonswe start
- vous commencezyou start
- ils / elles commencentthey start
Passé composé
- j’ai commencéI started
- tu as commencéyou started
- il / elle a commencéhe / she started
- nous avons commencéwe started
- vous avez commencéyou started
- ils / elles ont commencéthey started
Imperfect
- je commençaisI used to start
- tu commençaisyou used to start
- il / elle commençaithe / she used to start
- nous commencionswe used to start
- vous commenciezyou used to start
- ils / elles commençaientthey used to start
Future
- je commenceraiI will start
- tu commencerasyou will start
- il / elle commencerahe / she will start
- nous commenceronswe will start
- vous commencerezyou will start
- ils / elles commencerontthey will start
Conditional
- je commenceraisI would start
- tu commenceraisyou would start
- il / elle commenceraithe / she would start
- nous commencerionswe would start
- vous commenceriezyou would start
- ils / elles commenceraientthey would start
Subjunctive
- que je commencethat I start
- que tu commencesthat you start
- qu’il / elle commencethat he / she start
- que nous commencionsthat we start
- que vous commenciezthat you start
- qu’ils / elles commencentthat they start
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📈 Level up with « commencer »
The same verb, seven times over — each level adds one new thing you can actually say.
A1Basics — starting, and the cedilla
Le film commence à huit heures.The film starts at eight.
Nous commençons demain.We start tomorrow.
A2Past — and the ç again
J’ai commencé à travailler à vingt ans.I started working at twenty.
Je commençais à m’inquiéter.I was starting to worry.
B1commencer à vs commencer par
Il commence à pleuvoir.It’s starting to rain.
Commençons par le début.Let’s start at the beginning.
B2Subjunctive & set phrases
Avant que le film ne commence.Before the film starts.
Il faut que tu commences maintenant.You need to start now.
C1Idiomatic — ça commence bien
Ça commence bien !Great start! (ironic)
On recommence.Let’s start again.
C2Literary & formal
Ils ont entamé des négociations.They opened negotiations.
Le processus est amorcé.The process has been set in motion.
NativeNative slang
Ça commence à bien faire !Enough is enough!
Tu commences, toi !You’re starting to annoy me!
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