Compter Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

compter — “to count” — is one of the verbs you will use every day in French. On this page you will find compter 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 compte les pièces sur la table.” — “I count the coins on the table.”

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

Example sentences with compter

In the present tense

  • “Je compte les pièces sur la table tous les jours.” — “I count the coins on the table.”
  • “Tu comptes les pièces sur la table souvent.” — “You count the coins on the table.”
  • “Il compte les pièces sur la table chaque matin.” — “He counts the coins on the table.”
  • “Nous comptons les pièces sur la table le week-end.” — “We count the coins on the table.”

In the passé composé

  • “J'ai compté les pièces sur la table hier.” — “I have counted the coins on the table.”
  • “Tu as compté les pièces sur la table ce matin.” — “You have counted the coins on the table.”
  • “Il a compté les pièces sur la table la semaine dernière.” — “He has counted the coins on the table.”

In the imperfect and the future

  • “Je comptais les pièces sur la table quand j’étais jeune.” — “When I was young, I used to count the coins on the table.”
  • “Nous comptions les pièces sur la table quand j’étais jeune.” — “We used to count the coins on the table.”
  • “Tu compteras les pièces sur la table demain.” — “You will count the coins on the table tomorrow.”
  • “Ils compteront les pièces sur la table demain.” — “They will count the coins on the table tomorrow.”

In other tenses

  • “Je compterais les pièces sur la table si je pouvais.” — “I would count the coins on the table if I could.”
  • “Il faut que je compte les pièces sur la table.” — “It is important that I count the coins on the table.”
  • “Compte les pièces sur la table !” — “Count the coins on the table!” The same verb in the pluperfect: “J'avais compté les pièces sur la table avant la fête.” — “I had counted the coins on the table before the party.”

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

Compter in context

Dialogue 1: every day

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

Marie: “Tu comptes les pièces sur la table tous les jours ?” — “You count the coins on the table.” Paul: “Je compte les pièces sur la table tous les jours.” — “I count the coins on the table.” Marie: “Tu as compté les pièces sur la table hier ?” — “You have counted the coins on the table.” Paul: “J'ai compté les pièces sur la table hier.” — “I have counted the coins on the table.” Marie: “Nous compterons les pièces sur la table demain ?” — “We will count the coins on the table tomorrow.” Paul: “Nous compterons les pièces sur la table demain.” — “We will count the coins on the table 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 compterais les pièces sur la table si je pouvais.” — “I would count the coins on the table if I could.” Marie: “Tu comptes les pièces sur la table souvent ?” — “You count the coins on the table.” Paul: “Je compte les pièces sur la table souvent.” — “I count the coins on the table.” Marie: “Compte les pièces sur la table !” — “Count the coins on the table!” Paul: “Il faut que je compte les pièces sur la table.” — “It is important that I count the coins on the table.” Marie: “Nous avons compté les pièces sur la table hier.” — “We have counted the coins on the table.”

Read both dialogues aloud, changing the person each time: compte becomes comptes, comptes becomes compte, and so on. That is the fastest way to fix the six present forms — compte*, comptes, compte, comptons, comptez, *comptent — in memory.

Common mistakes with compter

Mistake 1: Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form

Wrong: “Je compter les pièces sur la table.”

Right: “Je compte les pièces sur la table.”

The infinitive compter never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form compte.

Mistake 2: Confusing compter with calculer

Wrong: “Je compte le prix total.” (meant as “calculer”)

Right: “Je compte les pièces sur la table.”

compter means “to count” and calculer means “to calculate”. 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 compté les pièces sur la table.”

Right: “J'ai compté les pièces sur la table.”

With compter the passé composé is formed with avoir: ai compté.

Mistake 4: Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger

Wrong: “Il faut que je compte les pièces sur la table.”

Right: “Il faut que je compte les pièces sur la table.”

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

Mistake 5: Mixing up the persons

Wrong: “Tu compte les pièces sur la table.”

Right: “Tu comptes les pièces sur la table.”

After tu you need comptes, not the je form compte.

Quiz: compter in everyday use

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

    • A) comptent
    • B) comptons
    • C) comptez
    • D) compte

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

    • A) comptons
    • B) comptent
    • C) comptes
    • D) comptez

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

    • A) avons compté
    • B) avez compté
    • C) a compté
    • D) as compté

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

    • A) comptait
    • B) comptions
    • C) comptaient
    • D) comptais

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

    • A) compterez
    • B) comptera
    • C) compterons
    • D) compteras

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

    • A) compterais
    • B) compterions
    • C) compteriez
    • D) compterait

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

    • A) compte
    • B) comptes
    • C) comptent
    • D) comptiez

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

    • A) comptez
    • B) comptons
    • C) a compté
    • D) compte

  9. What is the past participle of compter?

    • A) compté
    • B) en comptant
    • C) compte
    • D) comptais

  10. What does compter mean in English?

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

Answer key

  1. D) compte — the je form of compter in the present indicative is compte.
  2. B) comptent — the ils/elles form of compter in the present indicative is comptent.
  3. D) as compté — the tu form of compter in the present perfect (passé composé) is as compté.
  4. B) comptions — the nous form of compter in the imperfect is comptions.
  5. B) comptera — the il/elle form of compter in the future is comptera.
  6. A) compterais — the je form of compter in the conditional is compterais.
  7. B) comptes — the tu form of compter in the present subjunctive is comptes.
  8. D) compte — the tu form of compter in the imperative (affirmative) is compte.
  9. A) compté — the past participle of compter is compté; perfect tenses use avoir + compté.
  10. D) to count — compter means “to count” in English.

Frequently asked questions

What does compter mean in English?

compter means “to count”. You use it in everyday situations like the examples on this page — for example, “Je compte les pièces sur la table.” (“I count the coins on the table.”).

Which auxiliary does compter take in the passé composé?

compter takes avoir: ai compté. Because the auxiliary is avoir, the participle normally stays invariable.

What is the hardest form of compter to remember?

Most learners struggle with keeping the six persons apart — compte*, comptes, compte, comptons, comptez, *comptent. 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 compter?

On the full conjugation page for compter, which has every tense, and on the compter 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 count the coins on the table.” should become “Je compte les pièces sur la table”. Then try the passé composé: “I have counted the coins on the table.” should become “J'ai compté les pièces sur la table”. Finally, try the future: “I will count the coins on the table tomorrow.” should become “Je compterai les pièces sur la table”. If you get a form wrong, check it against the full conjugation page and say the correct form aloud three times before moving on.

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