Meaning and Usage
The French verb voir means to see in English. It is an important irregular verb often used to describe perceiving something with the eyes, noticing, or envisioning. You will encounter voir frequently in everyday conversations, literature, and media.
Verb Category
Voir belongs to the group of irregular verbs in French, which means its conjugation does not follow the regular patterns of -er, -ir, or -re verbs. Because it is irregular, it requires special attention when learning its forms and uses.
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense of voir is commonly used to express current actions or habitual activities related to seeing. This tense is also used idiomatically in various French expressions.
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | vois | I see | Je vois un oiseau dans le jardin. | I see a bird in the garden. |
| Tu | vois | You see (sing.) | Tu vois la voiture rouge. | You see the red car. |
| Il/Elle/On | voit | He/She/One sees | Elle voit le film au cinéma. | She sees the movie at the cinema. |
| Nous | voyons | We see | Nous voyons les étoiles ce soir. | We see the stars tonight. |
| Vous | voyez | You see (formal/pl.) | Vous voyez la maison bleue. | You see the blue house. |
| Ils/Elles | voient | They see | Ils voient un arc-en-ciel. | They see a rainbow. |
Past Participle and Compound Tenses
The past participle of voir is vu, which is used in compound tenses like the passé composé, often to describe completed actions in the past.
Example:
- J'ai vu un spectacle hier soir.
- I saw a show last night.
Imperfect Tense Form
The imperfect tense describes ongoing or repeated past actions and states. Voir is conjugated irregularly in this tense but still follows a recognizable pattern for many irregular verbs.
Example:
- Quand j'étais enfant, je voyais souvent des films.
- When I was a child, I often saw movies.
Future Tense Form
The simple future tense for voir uses the stem verr-. It indicates something that will happen or be seen later.
Example:
- Demain, je verrai la mer.
- Tomorrow, I will see the sea.
Conditional Mood
The conditional uses the same stem as the future and expresses what would happen or what one would see under certain conditions.
Example:
- Je verrais mieux si j'avais mes lunettes.
- I would see better if I had my glasses.
Common Expressions with Voir
Several idiomatic expressions use voir, demonstrating its versatility beyond the literal meaning of "to see."
- On verra – We'll see
- À voir – To be seen, worth watching
- Il faut voir – It must be seen, it's important to see
These idioms appear often in spoken and written French, adding nuance to conversations.
This guide on voir helps solidify knowledge of this essential irregular verb, providing you with the conjugations and examples you need for effective communication in French.
