Causer Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

causer — to cause — 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 causer 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 causer conjugation page, and the deep dive into its most practised tense is on the causer present tense page.

Example sentences with causer

In the present tense

  • “Je cause le problème tous les jours.” — “I cause the problem every day.”
  • “Tu causes le problème à la maison.” — “You cause the problem at home.”
  • “Il cause le problème ce matin.” — “He causes the problem this morning.”
  • “Nous causons le problème avec Paul.” — “We cause the problem with Paul.”
  • “Vous causez le problème.” — “You cause the problem.”
  • “Ils causent le problème tous les jours.” — “They cause the problem every day.”

In the passé composé

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

  • “Je causais le problème à la maison.” — “I used to cause the problem at home.”
  • “Tu causeras le problème bientôt.” — “You will cause the problem soon.”
  • “Il causerait le problème avec Paul.” — “He would cause the problem with Paul.”
  • “Il est important que nous causions le problème tous les jours.” — “It is important that We cause the problem every day.”
  • “Cause le problème !” — “Cause the problem!”

Causer in context

Je cause le problème tous les jours. Tu causes le problème à la maison. Il cause le problème ce matin. Nous causons le problème avec Paul. C’est une partie normale de la routine, et c’est pour cela que le présent de causer 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 — cause, causes, cause, causons — tandis que le sens reste le même : to cause. J'ai causé le problème hier. Tu as causé le problème la semaine dernière. Il a causé le problème ce matin. Nous avons causé le problème avant la fête. C’était une journée normale, mais c’est justement dans des journées comme celle-ci que le passé composé de causer 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 cause — 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 causer le problème.”

✓ Right: “Je cause le problème tous les jours.”

The infinitive causer never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form cause.

2. Using the wrong person

✗ Wrong: “Je causes le problème.”

✓ Right: “Je cause le problème tous les jours.”

causes is the tu form, not the je form. The je form is cause — check the person before you write the form.

3. Using the present for a finished past action

✗ Wrong: “Je cause le problème hier.”

✓ Right: “J'ai causé le problème hier.”

Hier points to the past, so use the present perfect ai causé here, not the present cause.

4. Mixing up the stem in the stressed forms

✗ Wrong: “Je causons le problème.”

✓ Right: “Je cause le problème tous les jours.”

causons is the nous form. The je form is cause — the two persons never share a form in the present of causer.

Quiz: test yourself

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

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

    • A) causes
    • B) causeras
    • C) causais
    • D) causons

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

    • A) cause
    • B) causasse
    • C) avons causé
    • D) ai causé

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

    • A) a causé
    • B) causait
    • C) causaient
    • D) causât

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

    • A) causeront
    • B) causerons
    • C) causassions
    • D) causions

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

    • A) causerais
    • B) avais causé
    • C) causeraient
    • D) causes

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

    • A) causas
    • B) causâmes
    • C) causai
    • D) causasse

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

    • A) aurions causé
    • B) causions
    • C) causent
    • D) causiez

  8. What is the gerund of causer?

    • A) annonçant
    • B) accompagnant
    • C) améliorant
    • D) en causant

  9. What is the past participle of causer?

    • A) causé
    • B) cessé
    • C) montré
    • D) consulté

  10. What does causer mean in English?

  • A) consult
  • B) approach
  • C) cause
  • D) control

Answer key

  1. A) causes — the tu form of causer in the present indicative is causes. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  2. D) ai causé — the je form of causer in the present perfect (passé composé) is ai causé. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  3. B) causait — the il/elle form of causer in the imperfect is causait. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  4. B) causerons — the nous form of causer in the future is causerons. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  5. A) causerais — the tu form of causer in the conditional is causerais. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  6. C) causai — the je form of causer in the passé simple is causai. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  7. B) causions — the nous form of causer in the present subjunctive is causions. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  8. D) en causant — the gerund of causer is en causant; 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) causé — the past participle of causer is causé; perfect tenses use avoir + causé. The other options are the participles of neighbouring verbs.
  10. C) cause — causer means “to cause” in English. The other options are the meanings of neighbouring verbs.

Frequently asked questions

What does causer mean in English?

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

Is causer regular or irregular?

causer is regular. causer 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 causer?

The gerund is en causant and the past participle is causé. The perfect tenses use avoir + causé.

Where can I see the full conjugation of causer?

On the causer conjugation page — every tense, every person, with tables. The causer 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 causer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

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