Approcher Conjugation in French
approcher means “to approach” in English, and it is one of the verbs French learners meet early — it sits at frequency rank 182 in VerbFlow’s French list. It is a non-reflexive, regular -er verb, and this page gives you its complete conjugation — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “J'approche la maison tous les jours.” — “I approach the house every day.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: approcher
- English: to approach
- Verb type: Non-reflexive, Regular
- Irregular in: no tense — fully regular
- Gerund: en approchant
- Past participle: approché
- Auxiliary: avoir (all perfect tenses are formed with avoir + the past participle)
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.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for approcher. Learn the present tense first, then the passé composé and the imperfect, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | approche |
| tu | approches |
| il/elle | approche |
| nous | approchons |
| vous | approchez |
| ils/elles | approchent |
Passé simple
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | approchai |
| tu | approchas |
| il/elle | approcha |
| nous | approchâmes |
| vous | approchâtes |
| ils/elles | approchèrent |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | approchais |
| tu | approchais |
| il/elle | approchait |
| nous | approchions |
| vous | approchiez |
| ils/elles | approchaient |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | approcherai |
| tu | approcheras |
| il/elle | approchera |
| nous | approcherons |
| vous | approcherez |
| ils/elles | approcheront |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | approcherais |
| tu | approcherais |
| il/elle | approcherait |
| nous | approcherions |
| vous | approcheriez |
| ils/elles | approcheraient |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | ai approché |
| tu | as approché |
| il/elle | a approché |
| nous | avons approché |
| vous | avez approché |
| ils/elles | ont approché |
Pluperfect (past perfect)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | avais approché |
| tu | avais approché |
| il/elle | avait approché |
| nous | avions approché |
| vous | aviez approché |
| ils/elles | avaient approché |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | aurai approché |
| tu | auras approché |
| il/elle | aura approché |
| nous | aurons approché |
| vous | aurez approché |
| ils/elles | auront approché |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | aurais approché |
| tu | aurais approché |
| il/elle | aurait approché |
| nous | aurions approché |
| vous | auriez approché |
| ils/elles | auraient approché |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | approche |
| tu | approches |
| il/elle | approche |
| nous | approchions |
| vous | approchiez |
| ils/elles | approchent |
Imperfect subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | approchasse |
| tu | approchasses |
| il/elle | approchât |
| nous | approchassions |
| vous | approchassiez |
| ils/elles | approchassent |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | approche |
| nous | approchons |
| vous | approchez |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | approche |
| nous | approchons |
| vous | approchez |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | French |
|---|---|
| Gerund | en approchant |
| Past participle | approché |
When to use each tense
Present indicative
The present indicative is used for habits, facts and things happening now. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “J'approche la maison tous les jours.” — “I approach the house every day.”
Passé simple
The passé simple is used for completed actions in the past, mainly in written and literary French. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Tu approchas la maison la semaine dernière.” — “You approached the house last week.”
Imperfect
The imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il approchait la maison ce matin.” — “He used to approach the house this morning.”
Future
The future is used for what will happen, and for predictions. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Nous approcherons la maison.” — “We will approach the house.”
Conditional
The conditional is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Vous approcheriez la maison.” — “You would approach the house.”
Present perfect
The present perfect (passé composé) is used for completed actions in the past, especially in spoken French. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Ils ont approché la maison hier.” — “They have approached the house yesterday.”
Pluperfect (past perfect)
The pluperfect (past perfect) is used for an action completed before another past action. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “J'avais approché la maison hier.” — “I had approached the house yesterday.”
Future perfect
The future perfect is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Tu auras approché la maison la semaine prochaine.” — “You will have approached the house next week.”
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect is used for what would have happened in a different past. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il aurait approché la maison ce matin.” — “He would have approached the house this morning.”
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il est important que nous approchions la maison tous les jours.” — “It is important that We approach the house every day.”
Imperfect subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for the past subjunctive: wishes and hypotheticals about the past, mostly in formal and literary French. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Il fallait que vous approchassiez la maison hier.” — “It was necessary that You approach the house yesterday.”
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) is used for direct commands and instructions. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Approchez la maison !” — “Approach the house!”
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) is used for prohibitions and negative commands. With approcher this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -er pattern. For example: “Ne approche pas la maison !” — “Do not approach the house!”
Gerund and past participle
The gerund en approchant is used after en for an action happening at the same time as the main verb. For example: “En approchant, je commence la journée.” — “While approaching, I start the day.” The past participle approché is used with avoir in the perfect tenses, as in j'ai approché — “I have approached the house yesterday.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with approcher, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the French and try to produce it from the English.
- “J'approche la maison à la maison.” — “I approach the house at home.”
- “Tu approchas la maison ce matin.” — “You approached the house this morning.”
- “Il approchait la maison avec Paul.” — “He used to approach the house with Paul.”
- “J'approcherai la maison demain.” — “I will approach the house tomorrow.”
- “Tu approcherais la maison tous les jours.” — “You would approach the house every day.”
- “Il a approché la maison la semaine dernière.” — “He has approached the house last week.”
- “J'avais approché la maison ce matin.” — “I had approached the house this morning.”
- “Tu auras approché la maison demain.” — “You will have approached the house tomorrow.”
- “Il est important que il approche la maison tous les jours.” — “It is important that He approach the house every day.”
- “Approche la maison !” — “Approach the house!”
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.
5. Using the wrong auxiliary in the passé composé
✗ Wrong: “Je suis approché la maison hier.”
✓ Right: “J'ai approché la maison hier.”
approcher takes avoir in the compound tenses, not être: ai approché, never the être form.
6. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “Il est important que nous approchons la maison.”
✓ Right: “Il est important que nous approchions la maison.”
After il est important que French needs the subjunctive, so use approchions here, not the indicative approchons.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on approcher. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the je form of approcher in the Present indicative?
- A) approchais
- B) approches
- C) avais approché
- D) approche
What is the il/elle form of approcher in the Passé simple?
- A) approchera
- B) approcherait
- C) approcha
- D) approchèrent
What is the nous form of approcher in the Imperfect?
- A) avons approché
- B) approchons
- C) approchions
- D) approchiez
What is the tu form of approcher in the Future?
- A) approcherais
- B) approcheras
- C) auras approché
- D) approcheront
What is the je form of approcher in the Conditional?
- A) ai approché
- B) approcherait
- C) approchai
- D) approcherais
What is the il/elle form of approcher in the Present subjunctive?
- A) a approché
- B) approchent
- C) approche
- D) approchera
What is the nous form of approcher in the Present perfect (passé composé)?
- A) approchions
- B) avons approché
- C) ai approché
- D) avez approché
What is the gerund of approcher?
- A) brûlant
- B) admettant
- C) en approchant
- D) consultant
What is the past participle of approcher?
- A) approché
- B) amené
- C) assisté
- D) enlevé
What does approcher mean in English?
- A) approach
- B) adopt
- C) compare
- D) accept
Answer key
- D) approche — the je form of approcher in the present indicative is approche. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) approcha — the il/elle form of approcher in the passé simple is approcha. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) approchions — the nous form of approcher in the imperfect is approchions. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- B) approcheras — the tu form of approcher in the future is approcheras. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- D) approcherais — the je form of approcher in the conditional is approcherais. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) approche — the il/elle form of approcher in the present subjunctive is approche. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- B) avons approché — the nous form of approcher in the present perfect (passé composé) is avons approché. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) 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.
- A) approché — the past participle of approcher is approché; perfect tenses use avoir + approché. The other options are the participles of neighbouring verbs.
- A) approach — approcher means “to approach” in English. The other options are the meanings of neighbouring verbs.
How to learn this verb
Learn approcher in three passes. First, say the present tense aloud in order — j'approche, tu approches, il approche, nous approchons, vous approchez, ils approchent — three times, then write three sentences with the verb. Second, learn the passé composé with its auxiliary: ai approché shows the pattern, and the participle approché is the same in every perfect tense. Third, add one new tense a day, always in a sentence, and test yourself the next day before you learn the next one. A verb you can use in a sentence is learnt; a verb you can only recite is not. Use the Verb Quiz and the Verb Conjugator to check what has stuck, and compare approcher with the other verbs in this batch on the French verbs hub.
Frequently asked questions
What does approcher mean in English?
approcher means “to approach”. It is a non-reflexive, regular verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is approcher regular or irregular?
approcher is regular, and it is irregular in these tenses: none. 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 — use it after en for an action happening at the same time as the main verb. The past participle is approché — use it with avoir for the perfect tenses, as in j'ai approché.
How do I say “I approach” in French?
Say “J'approche la maison tous les jours.” — “I approach the house every day.” The je form of the present is approche, and it is the form you will use most often.
How do you pronounce approcher?
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.
Related pages
- approcher in the present tense
- approcher examples and quiz
- Arranger conjugation — another French verb in this batch.
- Considérer conjugation — another French verb in this batch.
- French verbs — the full hub of French conjugation pages.
- French irregular verbs — every common irregular French verb, grouped by pattern.
- Spanish verbs — the full hub of Spanish conjugation pages.
- Verb Frequency List — practise approcher with the interactive tool.
- Conditional Conjugator — practise approcher with the interactive tool.
- Preterite Vs Imperfect — practise approcher with the interactive tool.