Meaning and Usage
The French verb offrir means to offer. It is used when giving something to someone as a gift or making an offer to provide something. Offrir expresses an action of presenting or granting willingly, typically in contexts involving gifts, services, or opportunities.
Verb Type and Conjugation Group
Offrir is an irregular verb but conjugates like verbs ending in -ir that are similar to ouvrir (to open) and couvrir (to cover). These verbs have a unique conjugation pattern resembling regular -er verbs in certain tenses despite their -ir ending.
Present Indicative Conjugation
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | offre | I offer | J'offre un cadeau à mon ami. | I offer a gift to my friend. |
| Tu | offres | You offer | Tu offres ton aide toujours. | You always offer your help. |
| Il/Elle/On | offre | He/She/One offers | Elle offre du café aux invités. | She offers coffee to the guests. |
| Nous | offrons | We offer | Nous offrons nos services ici. | We offer our services here. |
| Vous | offrez | You (formal/plural) offer | Vous offrez une belle opportunité. | You offer a great opportunity. |
| Ils/Elles | offrent | They offer | Ils offrent des fleurs. | They offer flowers. |
Passé Composé with Avoir
The passé composé is formed with avoir + offert (past participle).
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | ai offert | I offered | J'ai offert un cadeau hier. | I offered a gift yesterday. |
| Tu | as offert | You offered | Tu as offert ton aide à la réunion. | You offered your help at the meeting. |
| Il/Elle/On | a offert | He/She/One offered | Elle a offert son soutien. | She offered her support. |
| Nous | avons offert | We offered | Nous avons offert des conseils utiles. | We offered helpful advice. |
| Vous | avez offert | You offered | Vous avez offert une bonne idée. | You offered a good idea. |
| Ils/Elles | ont offert | They offered | Ils ont offert de payer. | They offered to pay. |
Imperfect Tense
The imperfect is used to describe past habitual actions or to set a scene. Here is offrir in the imperfect:
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | offrais | I was offering/I used to offer | J'offrais des fleurs tous les jours. | I was offering flowers every day. |
| Tu | offrais | You were offering | Tu offrais toujours ton aide. | You were always offering help. |
| Il/Elle/On | offrait | He/She/One was offering | Il offrait des cadeaux chaque Noël. | He offered gifts every Christmas. |
| Nous | offrions | We were offering | Nous offrions notre soutien. | We were offering our support. |
| Vous | offriez | You were offering | Vous offriez des promotions fréquentes. | You were offering frequent discounts. |
| Ils/Elles | offraient | They were offering | Elles offraient leur temps libre. | They were offering their free time. |
Subjunctive Present
The subjunctive appears after expressions of doubt, emotion, or necessity.
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Equivalent | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Que je | offre | That I offer | Il faut que j'offre mon aide. | It is necessary that I offer my help. |
| Que tu | offres | That you offer | Il faut que tu offres une solution. | It is necessary that you offer a solution. |
| Qu’il/elle/on | offre | That he/she/one offers | Je doute qu'elle offre assez d'aide. | I doubt that she offers enough help. |
| Que nous | offrions | That we offer | Il faut que nous offrions un cadeau. | It is necessary that we offer a gift. |
| Que vous | offriez | That you offer | Il faut que vous offriez votre avis. | It is necessary that you offer your opinion. |
| Qu’ils/elles | offrent | That they offer | Il est possible qu'ils offrent un poste. | It is possible they offer a position. |
Common Expressions with Offrir
Offrir is frequently found in set phrases such as offrir ses condoléances (to offer one's condolences), offrir un spectacle (to offer a show/performance), or offrir un emploi (to offer a job). Knowing this verb enhances your ability to talk about giving and presenting in French culture.
Summary
The verb offrir is an important irregular -ir verb used to express the act of offering or giving. Mastery of its conjugation will allow you to communicate invitations, gifts, and offers effectively in multiple tenses and moods.
