Partir is a key French verb expressing departure. Unlike regular -ir verbs, partir has its own conjugation pattern and is used when someone leaves or sets off from a place. Mastering partir helps you talk about travel, exits, and changes in location.
- Means: to leave, to depart
- Usage: When someone leaves or departs from a place
- Verb type: Irregular -ir verb
Definition and Usage
Partir expresses leaving or departing from somewhere, often used for people starting a journey or exiting a location.
- Core meaning: to leave, to depart
- Commonly used for: travel, departures, exits
- Not for: dismissing something abstract (see quitter)
'Partir' is used when someone leaves or departs from a place.
Example Sentences
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je pars à huit heures. | I leave at eight o'clock. |
| Ils partent demain. | They are leaving tomorrow. |
*Partir* means 'to leave' or 'to depart.'
*partir* is mainly used for people or things (like trains) that depart.
*partir* is used for leaving or departing, especially in travel or daily routines.
Conjugation Patterns: Present Tense
Partir is conjugated like other verbs in the partir/sortir/dormir family:
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | pars | I leave |
| Tu | pars | You leave |
| Il/Elle/On | part | He/She/One leaves |
| Nous | partons | We leave |
| Vous | partez | You leave |
| Ils/Elles | partent | They leave |
- Note the stem change: par- for nous/vous, part- for others.
For 'nous', *partir* is 'partons.'
*partir* follows the same pattern as sortir and dormir.
Important: Quitter vs. Partir
- Partir = to leave/depart (from a place, often used for people or vehicles)
- Quitter = to leave (someone/something), requires direct object, used when leaving someone or something behind
| Verb | Usage | Example (Fr) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partir | To leave/depart (no obj.) | Je pars à 8h. | I’m leaving at 8. |
| Quitter | To leave someone/something | Je quitte la maison. | I’m leaving the house. |
| Il quitte son travail. | He’s leaving his job. |
- You use quitter when you are the subject and you leave someone or something (a direct object), e.g., quitter la maison.
*partir* is intransitive, so it doesn't take a direct object.
*quitter* is used when leaving someone or something, not for things that depart on their own.
Use *partir* for leaving/departing; use *quitter* when you leave someone or something behind.
Summary
Partir is an irregular -ir verb meaning "to leave" or "to depart," used when people or vehicles set off from a place. It’s not used with a direct object; when leaving someone or something behind, use quitter instead.
- Partir = to leave/depart (no direct object)
- Use partir for people/vehicles starting a journey
- Quitter = to leave someone/something (requires direct object)
*partir* expresses leaving or departing.
*partir* is for departing (no direct object); *quitter* is for leaving someone/something behind.
*partir* is an irregular -ir verb.