Approcher Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

approcher — to approach — is one of the verbs you will use every day in French. It is a non-reflexive, regular -er verb, and it comes up in conversation, at work and at home. On this page you will find approcher in real sentences, grouped by meaning and tense, two short texts that show it in context, the mistakes learners actually make with it, and a ten-question quiz with explained answers. Start with the examples, say them aloud, and then test yourself. The full conjugation tables are on the approcher conjugation page, and the deep dive into its most practised tense is on the approcher present tense page.

Example sentences with approcher

In the present tense

  • “J'approche la maison tous les jours.” — “I approach the house every day.”
  • “Tu approches la maison à la maison.” — “You approach the house at home.”
  • “Il approche la maison ce matin.” — “He approaches the house this morning.”
  • “Nous approchons la maison avec Paul.” — “We approach the house with Paul.”
  • “Vous approchez la maison.” — “You approach the house.”
  • “Ils approchent la maison tous les jours.” — “They approach the house every day.”

In the passé composé

  • “J'ai approché la maison hier.” — “I have approached the house yesterday.”
  • “Tu as approché la maison la semaine dernière.” — “You have approached the house last week.”
  • “Il a approché la maison ce matin.” — “He has approached the house this morning.”
  • “Nous avons approché la maison avant la fête.” — “We have approached the house before the party.”
  • “Vous avez approché la maison.” — “You have approached the house.”
  • “Ils ont approché la maison hier.” — “They have approached the house yesterday.”

In other tenses

The same verb in the imperfect, the future, the conditional, the present subjunctive and the imperative — the tenses that complete the picture. All forms come from the verified tables.

  • “J'approchais la maison à la maison.” — “I used to approach the house at home.”
  • “Tu approcheras la maison bientôt.” — “You will approach the house soon.”
  • “Il approcherait la maison avec Paul.” — “He would approach the house with Paul.”
  • “Il est important que nous approchions la maison tous les jours.” — “It is important that We approach the house every day.”
  • “Approche la maison !” — “Approach the house!”

Approcher in context

J'approche la maison tous les jours. Tu approches la maison à la maison. Il approche la maison ce matin. Nous approchons la maison avec Paul. C’est une partie normale de la routine, et c’est pour cela que le présent de approcher est la première forme qu’il convient d’apprendre. Chaque phrase utilise une personne différente, alors lisez-les à voix haute et remarquez comment la forme change — approche, approches, approche, approchons — tandis que le sens reste le même : to approach. J'ai approché la maison hier. Tu as approché la maison la semaine dernière. Il a approché la maison ce matin. Nous avons approché la maison avant la fête. C’était une journée normale, mais c’est justement dans des journées comme celle-ci que le passé composé de approcher apparaît sans cesse : une action terminée, un moment précis, et l’histoire continue. Comparez ces phrases avec celles du présent ci-dessus : le verbe change de temps, mais le sens de base — to approach — ne change pas. C’est la différence entre une habitude et un événement terminé.

Common mistakes

1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form

✗ Wrong: “Je approcher la maison.”

✓ Right: “J'approche la maison tous les jours.”

The infinitive approcher never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form approche.

2. Using the wrong person

✗ Wrong: “Je approches la maison.”

✓ Right: “J'approche la maison tous les jours.”

approches is the tu form, not the je form. The je form is approche — check the person before you write the form.

3. Using the present for a finished past action

✗ Wrong: “J'approche la maison hier.”

✓ Right: “J'ai approché la maison hier.”

Hier points to the past, so use the present perfect ai approché here, not the present approche.

4. Mixing up the stem in the stressed forms

✗ Wrong: “Je approchons la maison.”

✓ Right: “J'approche la maison tous les jours.”

approchons is the nous form. The je form is approche — the two persons never share a form in the present of approcher.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on approcher across the tenses. Answers with explanations follow each question.

  1. What is the tu form of approcher in the Present indicative?

    • A) approche
    • B) auras approché
    • C) approches
    • D) approcherais

  2. What is the je form of approcher in the Present perfect (passé composé)?

    • A) approche
    • B) avais approché
    • C) ai approché
    • D) aurais approché

  3. What is the il/elle form of approcher in the Imperfect?

    • A) avait approché
    • B) approchais
    • C) approchait
    • D) approchiez

  4. What is the nous form of approcher in the Future?

    • A) approcherai
    • B) approcherons
    • C) approcherez
    • D) avions approché

  5. What is the tu form of approcher in the Conditional?

    • A) aurais approché
    • B) as approché
    • C) approcherais
    • D) approcheriez

  6. What is the je form of approcher in the Passé simple?

    • A) approchai
    • B) approcherai
    • C) aurais approché
    • D) approchâmes

  7. What is the nous form of approcher in the Present subjunctive?

    • A) approchent
    • B) aurions approché
    • C) approchassions
    • D) approchions

  8. What is the gerund of approcher?

    • A) en approchant
    • B) préparant
    • C) enlevant
    • D) calmant

  9. What is the past participle of approcher?

    • A) approché
    • B) accepté
    • C) assisté
    • D) calmé

  10. What does approcher mean in English?

  • A) approach
  • B) control
  • C) repair
  • D) turn off

Answer key

  1. C) approches — the tu form of approcher in the present indicative is approches. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  2. C) ai approché — the je form of approcher in the present perfect (passé composé) is ai approché. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  3. C) approchait — the il/elle form of approcher in the imperfect is approchait. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  4. B) approcherons — the nous form of approcher in the future is approcherons. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  5. C) approcherais — the tu form of approcher in the conditional is approcherais. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  6. A) approchai — the je form of approcher in the passé simple is approchai. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  7. D) approchions — the nous form of approcher in the present subjunctive is approchions. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  8. A) en approchant — the gerund of approcher is en approchant; it is used with en for actions happening at the same time as the main verb. The other options are the present participles of neighbouring verbs.
  9. A) approché — the past participle of approcher is approché; perfect tenses use avoir + approché. The other options are the participles of neighbouring verbs.
  10. A) approach — approcher means “to approach” in English. The other options are the meanings of neighbouring verbs.

Frequently asked questions

What does approcher mean in English?

approcher means “to approach”. You use it whenever you talk about to approach in French, in the present, the past and the future.

Is approcher regular or irregular?

approcher is regular. approcher is regular: every form follows the standard -er endings, so once you know the pattern you can build every tense from the stem. There are no surprises in any tense — the tables below are exactly what the endings predict.

What are the gerund and past participle of approcher?

The gerund is en approchant and the past participle is approché. The perfect tenses use avoir + approché.

Where can I see the full conjugation of approcher?

On the approcher conjugation page — every tense, every person, with tables. The approcher present tense page goes deeper into its most practised tense.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for approcher, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

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