French verb · irregular · first needed at upper intermediate level (B2)
craindre
to fear, to be afraid of
Like and : the n becomes gn before a vowel (). + subjunctive is a formal way to say . Past participle: .
Speed:
Present
Présent
What happens now or usually, and plans for the near future.
| je crains | |
| tu crains | |
| il / elle / on craint | |
| nous craignons | |
| vous craignez | |
| ils / elles craignent |
Perfect
Passé composé
A finished action in the past: “I did” or “I have done”.
| j'ai craint | |
| tu as craint | |
| il / elle / on a craint | |
| nous avons craint | |
| vous avez craint | |
| ils / elles ont craint |
Imperfect
Imparfait
Descriptions, habits and ongoing actions in the past: “I was doing”, “I used to do”.
| je craignais | |
| tu craignais | |
| il / elle / on craignait | |
| nous craignions | |
| vous craigniez | |
| ils / elles craignaient |
Future
Futur simple
What will happen: “I will do”.
| je craindrai | |
| tu craindras | |
| il / elle / on craindra | |
| nous craindrons | |
| vous craindrez | |
| ils / elles craindront |
Conditional
Conditionnel présent
What would happen, and polite requests: “I would do”.
| je craindrais | |
| tu craindrais | |
| il / elle / on craindrait | |
| nous craindrions | |
| vous craindriez | |
| ils / elles craindraient |
Present subjunctive
Subjonctif présent
After phrases of wish, need or feeling, such as (it's necessary that).
| que je craigne | |
| que tu craignes | |
| qu'il / qu'elle / qu'on craigne | |
| que nous craignions | |
| que vous craigniez | |
| qu'ils / qu'elles craignent |
Examples
- Je crains que la situation ne s'aggrave.I'm afraid the situation will get worse.
- Il ne craint pas le froid.He doesn't mind the cold.
- Nous craignons un retard.We fear there may be a delay.