Meaning and Usage
The verb sortir means to go out or to leave. It is commonly used when talking about leaving a place temporarily to go somewhere else, like going out with friends or stepping out of a room. It can also mean physically leaving an enclosed space.
Verb Group and Irregularity
Sortir is an irregular verb belonging to the third group. It does not follow the regular conjugation patterns of -ir verbs like finir. Its stem changes in certain forms, so it's important to learn those variations.
Present Tense Conjugation
Below is the present tense conjugation of sortir, showing its irregular forms:
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | sors | I go out / I leave | Je sors ce soir avec mes amis. | I am going out tonight with my friends. |
| tu | sors | you go out / you leave | Tu sors trop tard. | You leave too late. |
| il/elle/on | sort | he/she/one goes out | Il sort de la maison. | He is leaving the house. |
| nous | sortons | we go out / we leave | Nous sortons au cinéma. | We are going out to the cinema. |
| vous | sortez | you go out / you leave | Vous sortez souvent le weekend. | You go out often on weekends. |
| ils/elles | sortent | they go out / they leave | Elles sortent à 20 heures. | They leave at 8 p.m. |
Past Participle and Compound Tenses
The past participle of sortir is sorti. It is used with the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses like the passé composé because sortir is a verb of movement.
Example in passé composé:
- Je suis sorti hier soir. — I went out last night.
When sortir is used transitively (with a direct object), it takes avoir instead.
Common Expressions with Sortir
- sortir avec quelqu’un — to go out with someone (dating)
- sortir de quelque part — to leave from somewhere
- sortir en boîte — to go out clubbing
These idiomatic expressions are frequently used in everyday French.
Imperative Forms
The imperative is used to give commands or advice:
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| (tu) | sors | Go out! / Leave! |
| (nous) | sortons | Let's go out! |
| (vous) | sortez | Go out! / Leave! (formal) |
Summary
Sortir is a versatile irregular verb important for expressing the idea of leaving or going out in French. It takes different auxiliary verbs depending on its use and changes form depending on the subject and tense. Learning its conjugation and idioms will help you use it naturally.
