Introduction
The French verb "continuer" means "to continue" and is used to express ongoing actions or events. It is a regular verb in the first group, following the typical conjugation pattern for verbs ending in -er.
Conjugation
Present Tense
The present tense of "continuer" is used to describe actions that are currently happening or habitual.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | continue |
| Tu | continues |
| Il/Elle | continue |
| Nous | continuons |
| Vous | continuez |
| Ils/Elles | continuent |
Imperfect Tense
The imperfect tense indicates actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | continuais |
| Tu | continuais |
| Il/Elle | continuait |
| Nous | continuions |
| Vous | continuiez |
| Ils/Elles | continuaient |
Past Participle
The past participle is used in compound tenses to indicate completed actions.
- Past Participle: continué
Passé Composé
The passé composé is used to express actions that have been completed in the past.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | ai continué |
| Tu | as continué |
| Il/Elle | a continué |
| Nous | avons continué |
| Vous | avez continué |
| Ils/Elles | ont continué |
Usage Examples
- Present Tense:
- Je continue à lire ce livre.
- (I continue to read this book.)
- Imperfect Tense:
- Elle continuait de jouer au piano tous les jours.
- (She continued to play the piano every day.)
- Passé Composé:
- Nous avons continué notre voyage malgré la pluie.
- (We continued our journey despite the rain.)
Key Phrases with "Continuer"
- Continuer à faire quelque chose
- (To continue doing something)
- Continuer de parler
- (To continue speaking)
- Continuer sans arrêt
- (To continue without stopping)
Conclusion
The verb "continuer" is essential for expressing ongoing or uninterrupted actions in French. Whether you're talking about a project, a journey, or a routine, "continuer" helps convey the idea of persistence and progression.