Continuer Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

continuer — “to continue” — is one of the verbs you will use every day in French. On this page you will find continuer 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 continue mon travail chaque matin.” — “I continue my work every morning.”

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

Example sentences with continuer

In the present tense

  • “Je continue mon travail chaque matin tous les jours.” — “I continue my work every morning.”
  • “Tu continues mon travail chaque matin souvent.” — “You continue my work every morning.”
  • “Il continue mon travail chaque matin chaque matin.” — “He continues my work every morning.”
  • “Nous continuons mon travail chaque matin le week-end.” — “We continue my work every morning.”

In the passé composé

  • “J'ai continué mon travail chaque matin hier.” — “I have continued my work every morning.”
  • “Tu as continué mon travail chaque matin ce matin.” — “You have continued my work every morning.”
  • “Il a continué mon travail chaque matin la semaine dernière.” — “He has continued my work every morning.”

In the imperfect and the future

  • “Je continuais mon travail chaque matin quand j’étais jeune.” — “When I was young, I used to continue my work every morning.”
  • “Nous continuions mon travail chaque matin quand j’étais jeune.” — “We used to continue my work every morning.”
  • “Tu continueras mon travail chaque matin demain.” — “You will continue my work every morning tomorrow.”
  • “Ils continueront mon travail chaque matin demain.” — “They will continue my work every morning tomorrow.”

In other tenses

  • “Je continuerais mon travail chaque matin si je pouvais.” — “I would continue my work every morning if I could.”
  • “Il faut que je continue mon travail chaque matin.” — “It is important that I continue my work every morning.”
  • “Continue mon travail chaque matin !” — “Continue my work every morning!” The same verb in the pluperfect: “J'avais continué mon travail chaque matin avant la fête.” — “I had continued my work every morning before the party.”

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

Continuer in context

Dialogue 1: every day

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

Marie: “Tu continues mon travail chaque matin tous les jours ?” — “You continue my work every morning.” Paul: “Je continue mon travail chaque matin tous les jours.” — “I continue my work every morning.” Marie: “Tu as continué mon travail chaque matin hier ?” — “You have continued my work every morning.” Paul: “J'ai continué mon travail chaque matin hier.” — “I have continued my work every morning.” Marie: “Nous continuerons mon travail chaque matin demain ?” — “We will continue my work every morning tomorrow.” Paul: “Nous continuerons mon travail chaque matin demain.” — “We will continue my work every morning 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 continuerais mon travail chaque matin si je pouvais.” — “I would continue my work every morning if I could.” Marie: “Tu continues mon travail chaque matin souvent ?” — “You continue my work every morning.” Paul: “Je continue mon travail chaque matin souvent.” — “I continue my work every morning.” Marie: “Continue mon travail chaque matin !” — “Continue my work every morning!” Paul: “Il faut que je continue mon travail chaque matin.” — “It is important that I continue my work every morning.” Marie: “Nous avons continué mon travail chaque matin hier.” — “We have continued my work every morning.”

Read both dialogues aloud, changing the person each time: continue becomes continues, continues becomes continue, and so on. That is the fastest way to fix the six present forms — continue*, continues, continue, continuons, continuez, *continuent — in memory.

Common mistakes with continuer

Mistake 1: Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form

Wrong: “Je continuer mon travail chaque matin.”

Right: “Je continue mon travail chaque matin.”

The infinitive continuer never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form continue.

Mistake 2: Confusing continuer with arrêter

Wrong: “Je continue la voiture devant la maison.” (meant as “arrêter”)

Right: “Je continue mon travail chaque matin.”

continuer means “to continue” and arrêter means “to stop”. 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 continué mon travail chaque matin.”

Right: “J'ai continué mon travail chaque matin.”

With continuer the passé composé is formed with avoir: ai continué.

Mistake 4: Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger

Wrong: “Il faut que je continue mon travail chaque matin.”

Right: “Il faut que je continue mon travail chaque matin.”

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

Mistake 5: Mixing up the persons

Wrong: “Tu continue mon travail chaque matin.”

Right: “Tu continues mon travail chaque matin.”

After tu you need continues, not the je form continue.

Quiz: continuer in everyday use

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

    • A) continuons
    • B) continuent
    • C) continue
    • D) continues

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

    • A) continuent
    • B) continue
    • C) continuez
    • D) continues

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

    • A) a continué
    • B) avez continué
    • C) as continué
    • D) ai continué

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

    • A) continuais
    • B) continuaient
    • C) continuions
    • D) continuiez

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

    • A) continueront
    • B) continuerez
    • C) continuera
    • D) continueras

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

    • A) continueraient
    • B) continuerions
    • C) continueriez
    • D) continuerais

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

    • A) continues
    • B) continue
    • C) continuent
    • D) continuions

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

    • A) continuez
    • B) avais continué
    • C) continue
    • D) continuons

  9. What is the past participle of continuer?

    • A) en continuant
    • B) continue
    • C) continuais
    • D) continué

  10. What does continuer mean in English?

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

Answer key

  1. C) continue — the je form of continuer in the present indicative is continue.
  2. A) continuent — the ils/elles form of continuer in the present indicative is continuent.
  3. C) as continué — the tu form of continuer in the present perfect (passé composé) is as continué.
  4. C) continuions — the nous form of continuer in the imperfect is continuions.
  5. C) continuera — the il/elle form of continuer in the future is continuera.
  6. D) continuerais — the je form of continuer in the conditional is continuerais.
  7. A) continues — the tu form of continuer in the present subjunctive is continues.
  8. C) continue — the tu form of continuer in the imperative (affirmative) is continue.
  9. D) continué — the past participle of continuer is continué; perfect tenses use avoir + continué.
  10. A) to continue — continuer means “to continue” in English.

Frequently asked questions

What does continuer mean in English?

continuer means “to continue”. You use it in everyday situations like the examples on this page — for example, “Je continue mon travail chaque matin.” (“I continue my work every morning.”).

Which auxiliary does continuer take in the passé composé?

continuer takes avoir: ai continué. Because the auxiliary is avoir, the participle normally stays invariable.

What is the hardest form of continuer to remember?

Most learners struggle with keeping the six persons apart — continue*, continues, continue, continuons, continuez, *continuent. 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 continuer?

On the full conjugation page for continuer, which has every tense, and on the continuer 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 continue my work every morning.” should become “Je continue mon travail chaque matin”. Then try the passé composé: “I have continued my work every morning.” should become “J'ai continué mon travail chaque matin”. Finally, try the future: “I will continue my work every morning tomorrow.” should become “Je continuerai mon travail chaque matin”. 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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