French: courir
English: to run
Type: Irregular verb
Usage: Used for running, racing, or moving quickly. Also used in some idiomatic expressions (e.g., courir un risque - to take a risk).
- courir is an essential verb for describing motion and is often used beyond literal running (e.g., “to flow” for liquids or emotions).
- Its irregular conjugation places it alongside verbs like venir and tenir.
- Common expressions: courir après (to chase), courir un risque (to take a risk).
Conjugation Highlights
- Present root: cours- (je, tu, il/elle…)
- Future/conditional root: courr-
- Participle present: courant
- Past participle: couru
| Tense | Example (je) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Present | je cours | (tu, il: cours, court ...) |
| Past (PC) | j'ai couru | Auxiliary avoir |
| Imperfect | je courais | (for repeated/past states) |
| Future | je courrai | (courr- + endings) |
| Conditional | je courrais | (cou..., for “would”) |
| Subjunctive (present) | que je coure | (que tu coures, qu’il coure) |
*couru* is the past participle of *courir*.
*courir* can be used to describe 'running' for liquids/emotions and in idiomatic expressions.
Present Tense
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | cours | I run |
| Tu | cours | You run |
| Il/Elle | court | He/She runs |
| Nous | courons | We run |
| Vous | courez | You run |
| Ils/Elles | courent | They run |
Usage: Describes current, habitual, or general running.
Ex: Elle court tous les matins. (She runs every morning.)
The stem used in present is *cours-* (je cours, tu cours...).
'They run' is 'Ils courent.'
Passé Composé
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | ai couru | I ran |
| Tu | as couru | You ran |
| Il/Elle | a couru | He/She ran |
| Nous | avons couru | We ran |
| Vous | avez couru | You ran |
| Ils/Elles | ont couru | They ran |
Usage: Describes completed action in the past.
Ex: Nous avons couru au parc hier. (We ran in the park yesterday.)
*avoir* is used for *courir* in passé composé.
Correct forms use *avoir* + *couru*: 'J'ai couru', 'Nous avons couru'.
Imparfait
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | courais | I was running / I used to run |
| Tu | courais | You were running |
| Il/Elle | courait | He/She was running |
| Nous | courions | We were running |
| Vous | couriez | You were running |
| Ils/Elles | couraient | They were running |
Usage: Describes ongoing/repeated/dispositional actions in past.
Ex: Quand j'étais enfant, je courais partout. (When I was a child, I used to run everywhere.)
The imparfait stem is *cour-* (je courais).
Imparfait is used for habitual or background (not completed) past actions.
Future
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | courrai | I will run |
| Tu | courras | You will run |
| Il/Elle | courra | He/She will run |
| Nous | courrons | We will run |
| Vous | courrez | You will run |
| Ils/Elles | courront | They will run |
Usage: For actions that will happen.
Ex: Ils courront dans la course demain. (They will run in the race tomorrow.)
The future stem is *courr-* (je courrai).
Correct future forms: 'Je courrai', 'Nous courrons'.
Common Expressions with Courir
- Courir après: to chase after
- Courir un risque: to take a risk
- Courir partout: to run around (busy)
- Le danger court: danger is looming
- Les rumeurs courent: rumors are spreading
Common expressions include 'courir un risque', 'courir après quelqu'un', and 'les rumeurs courent'.
'Courir un risque' means 'to take a risk.'
Conclusion
Courir is a versatile, irregular French verb crucial for expressing movement and is embedded in many idiomatic expressions.
- Expresses both physical and metaphorical "running."
- Irregular conjugations span multiple roots: cours-, courr-.
- Fundamental for travel, sport, and everyday conversation contexts.