Chercher (to look for, to search) is a regular -er verb expressing the action of seeking or searching for something. It's used whenever you want to say you are looking for a person, object, information, etc.
- Chercher means "to look for" or "to search."
- It is a regular -er verb: conjugated like parler, aimer, etc.
- Use it when you want to express searching or looking for something/someone.
*Chercher* means "to look for" or "to search."
Conjugation: Present tense
As a regular -er verb, chercher follows the usual pattern. The root is cherch-; for nous, add a ç to preserve the "sh" sound.
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | cherche | I look for |
| Tu | cherches | You look for |
| Il/Elle/On | cherche | He/She/One looks for |
| Nous | cherchons* | We look for |
| Vous | cherchez | You (pl/form) look for |
| Ils/Elles | cherchent | They look for |
Note: For nous, it's cherchons (no ç needed before 'ons').
- Present root: cherch-
- Add -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent for je, tu, il..., nous, vous, ils...
'Nous cherchons' is correct for 'we look for.'
Using Chercher in Sentences
- Tu cherches... – You are looking for...
- Elle cherche ses clés. – She is looking for her keys.
- Nous cherchons un restaurant. – We are looking for a restaurant.
- Ils cherchent du travail. – They are looking for work.
C hercher is about the effort/"search" — when you "look for" something, not when you find it.
*chercher* is used for 'looking for' or 'searching,' not for 'finding.'
Past Tense (Passé Composé)
Chercher uses avoir in the passé composé. The past participle is cherché.
- J’ai cherché... – I looked for...
- Tu as cherché... – You looked for...
- Elle a cherché... – She looked for...
- Nous avons cherché... – We looked for...
- Ils ont cherché... – They looked for...
The past participle is 'cherché.'
Conclusion
Chercher is an essential -er verb for expressing the action of looking for or searching. Mastering its regular conjugation and usage helps you talk about seeking anything in French.
- Chercher = to look for / to search
- Regular -er verb with typical conjugation
- Used whenever you express seeking or searching