Calculer Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

calculer — “to calculate” — is one of the verbs you will use every day in French. On this page you will find calculer in real sentences, grouped by meaning and tense, two short dialogues 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. A first sentence to fix the verb in your memory: “Je calcule le prix total.” — “I calculate the total price.”

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

Example sentences with calculer

In the present tense

  • “Je calcule le prix total tous les jours.” — “I calculate the total price.”
  • “Tu calcules le prix total souvent.” — “You calculate the total price.”
  • “Il calcule le prix total chaque matin.” — “He calculates the total price.”
  • “Nous calculons le prix total le week-end.” — “We calculate the total price.”

In the passé composé

  • “J'ai calculé le prix total hier.” — “I have calculated the total price.”
  • “Tu as calculé le prix total ce matin.” — “You have calculated the total price.”
  • “Il a calculé le prix total la semaine dernière.” — “He has calculated the total price.”

In the imperfect and the future

  • “Je calculais le prix total quand j’étais jeune.” — “When I was young, I used to calculate the total price.”
  • “Nous calculions le prix total quand j’étais jeune.” — “We used to calculate the total price.”
  • “Tu calculeras le prix total demain.” — “You will calculate the total price tomorrow.”
  • “Ils calculeront le prix total demain.” — “They will calculate the total price tomorrow.”

In other tenses

  • “Je calculerais le prix total si je pouvais.” — “I would calculate the total price if I could.”
  • “Il faut que je calcule le prix total.” — “It is important that I calculate the total price.”
  • “Calcule le prix total !” — “Calculate the total price!” The same verb in the pluperfect: “J'avais calculé le prix total avant la fête.” — “I had calculated the total price before the party.”

All forms above come from the verified tables. The gerund is en calculant and the past participle is calculé; the perfect tenses use avoir + calculé, as in ai calculé.

Calculer in context

Dialogue 1: every day

Marie and Paul talk about what they do every day. Notice how calculer changes with the person, and how the passé composé appears when they talk about yesterday.

Marie: “Tu calcules le prix total tous les jours ?” — “You calculate the total price.” Paul: “Je calcule le prix total tous les jours.” — “I calculate the total price.” Marie: “Tu as calculé le prix total hier ?” — “You have calculated the total price.” Paul: “J'ai calculé le prix total hier.” — “I have calculated the total price.” Marie: “Nous calculerons le prix total demain ?” — “We will calculate the total price tomorrow.” Paul: “Nous calculerons le prix total demain.” — “We will calculate the total price tomorrow.”

Dialogue 2: making plans

Paul and Marie make plans for the weekend. The conditional appears for polite suggestions, and the imperative for a direct request.

Paul: “Je calculerais le prix total si je pouvais.” — “I would calculate the total price if I could.” Marie: “Tu calcules le prix total souvent ?” — “You calculate the total price.” Paul: “Je calcule le prix total souvent.” — “I calculate the total price.” Marie: “Calcule le prix total !” — “Calculate the total price!” Paul: “Il faut que je calcule le prix total.” — “It is important that I calculate the total price.” Marie: “Nous avons calculé le prix total hier.” — “We have calculated the total price.”

Read both dialogues aloud, changing the person each time: calcule becomes calcules, calcules becomes calcule, and so on. That is the fastest way to fix the six present forms — calcule*, calcules, calcule, calculons, calculez, *calculent — in memory.

Common mistakes with calculer

Mistake 1: Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form

Wrong: “Je calculer le prix total.”

Right: “Je calcule le prix total.”

The infinitive calculer never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form calcule.

Mistake 2: Confusing calculer with compter

Wrong: “Je calcule les pièces sur la table.” (meant as “compter”)

Right: “Je calcule le prix total.”

calculer means “to calculate” and compter means “to count”. They appear in similar situations, but they are different actions — check the meaning before you choose the verb.

Mistake 3: Using être for the passé composé

Wrong: “Je suis calculé le prix total.”

Right: “J'ai calculé le prix total.”

With calculer the passé composé is formed with avoir: ai calculé.

Mistake 4: Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger

Wrong: “Il faut que je calcule le prix total.”

Right: “Il faut que je calcule le prix total.”

After il faut que French needs the subjunctive: calcule, not the indicative calcule.

Mistake 5: Mixing up the persons

Wrong: “Tu calcule le prix total.”

Right: “Tu calcules le prix total.”

After tu you need calcules, not the je form calcule.

Quiz: calculer in everyday use

  1. What is the je form of calculer in the Present indicative?

    • A) calculent
    • B) calculons
    • C) calculez
    • D) calcule

  2. What is the ils/elles form of calculer in the Present indicative?

    • A) calculons
    • B) calculent
    • C) calculez
    • D) calcules

  3. What is the tu form of calculer in the Present perfect (passé composé)?

    • A) ont calculé
    • B) as calculé
    • C) avons calculé
    • D) avez calculé

  4. What is the nous form of calculer in the Imperfect?

    • A) calculaient
    • B) calculions
    • C) calculais
    • D) calculait

  5. What is the il/elle form of calculer in the Future?

    • A) calculera
    • B) calculerez
    • C) calculeras
    • D) calculerons

  6. What is the je form of calculer in the Conditional?

    • A) calculerait
    • B) calculerions
    • C) calculeraient
    • D) calculerais

  7. What is the tu form of calculer in the Present subjunctive?

    • A) calcule
    • B) calculent
    • C) calculions
    • D) calcules

  8. What is the tu form of calculer in the Imperative (affirmative)?

    • A) calculais
    • B) calcule
    • C) calculez
    • D) calculons

  9. What is the past participle of calculer?

    • A) calculé
    • B) en calculant
    • C) calcule
    • D) calculais

  10. What does calculer mean in English?

  • A) to calculate
  • B) to go
  • C) to be
  • D) to have

Answer key

  1. D) calcule — the je form of calculer in the present indicative is calcule.
  2. B) calculent — the ils/elles form of calculer in the present indicative is calculent.
  3. B) as calculé — the tu form of calculer in the present perfect (passé composé) is as calculé.
  4. B) calculions — the nous form of calculer in the imperfect is calculions.
  5. A) calculera — the il/elle form of calculer in the future is calculera.
  6. D) calculerais — the je form of calculer in the conditional is calculerais.
  7. D) calcules — the tu form of calculer in the present subjunctive is calcules.
  8. B) calcule — the tu form of calculer in the imperative (affirmative) is calcule.
  9. A) calculé — the past participle of calculer is calculé; perfect tenses use avoir + calculé.
  10. A) to calculate — calculer means “to calculate” in English.

Frequently asked questions

What does calculer mean in English?

calculer means “to calculate”. You use it in everyday situations like the examples on this page — for example, “Je calcule le prix total.” (“I calculate the total price.”).

Which auxiliary does calculer take in the passé composé?

calculer takes avoir: ai calculé. Because the auxiliary is avoir, the participle normally stays invariable.

What is the hardest form of calculer to remember?

Most learners struggle with keeping the six persons apart — calcule*, calcules, calcule, calculons, calculez, *calculent. Say them in order every day, and use the dialogues above to practise them in real sentences.

Where can I see the full conjugation of calculer?

On the full conjugation page for calculer, which has every tense, and on the calculer present page, which goes deep on one tense.

Say it yourself

Cover the French sentences above and translate the English back into French. Start with the present tense: “I calculate the total price.” should become “Je calcule le prix total”. Then try the passé composé: “I have calculated the total price.” should become “J'ai calculé le prix total”. Finally, try the future: “I will calculate the total price tomorrow.” should become “Je calculerai le prix total”. If you get a form wrong, check it against the full conjugation page and say the correct form aloud three times before moving on.

Related pages