Éteindre Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

éteindre — to turn off — is one of the verbs you will use every day in French. It is a non-reflexive, irregular -re verb, and it comes up in conversation, at work and at home. On this page you will find éteindre 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 éteindre conjugation page, and the deep dive into its most practised tense is on the éteindre passé composé tense page.

Example sentences with éteindre

In the present tense

  • “J'éteins la lampe tous les jours.” — “I turn off the lamp every day.”
  • “Tu éteins la lampe à la maison.” — “You turn off the lamp at home.”
  • “Il éteint la lampe ce matin.” — “He turns off the lamp this morning.”
  • “Nous éteignons la lampe avec Paul.” — “We turn off the lamp with Paul.”
  • “Vous éteignez la lampe.” — “You turn off the lamp.”
  • “Ils éteignent la lampe tous les jours.” — “They turn off the lamp every day.”

In the passé composé

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

  • “J'éteignais la lampe à la maison.” — “I used to turn off the lamp at home.”
  • “Tu éteindras la lampe bientôt.” — “You will turn off the lamp soon.”
  • “Il éteindrait la lampe avec Paul.” — “He would turn off the lamp with Paul.”
  • “Il est important que nous éteignions la lampe tous les jours.” — “It is important that We turn off the lamp every day.”
  • “Éteins la lampe !” — “Turn off the lamp!”

Éteindre in context

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

✓ Right: “J'éteins la lampe tous les jours.”

The infinitive éteindre never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form éteins.

2. Using the wrong person

✗ Wrong: “Je éteins la lampe.”

✓ Right: “J'éteins la lampe tous les jours.”

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

3. Using the present for a finished past action

✗ Wrong: “J'éteins la lampe hier.”

✓ Right: “J'ai éteint la lampe hier.”

Hier points to the past, so use the present perfect ai éteint here, not the present éteins.

4. Mixing up the stem in the stressed forms

✗ Wrong: “Je éteignons la lampe.”

✓ Right: “J'éteins la lampe tous les jours.”

éteindre is irregular in present, passe-simple, present-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative: those tenses do not follow the regular -re pattern, so learn them as a set rather than guessing from the infinitive. The other tenses follow the regular pattern.

Quiz: test yourself

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

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

    • A) éteignons
    • B) éteignais
    • C) as éteint
    • D) éteins

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

    • A) avons éteint
    • B) avez éteint
    • C) ai éteint
    • D) a éteint

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

    • A) éteignait
    • B) a éteint
    • C) éteignais
    • D) aura éteint

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

    • A) avions éteint
    • B) éteindrons
    • C) aurions éteint
    • D) éteindront

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

    • A) éteindraient
    • B) avais éteint
    • C) auras éteint
    • D) éteindrais

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

    • A) éteignit
    • B) éteindrai
    • C) éteindrais
    • D) éteignis

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

    • A) éteignîmes
    • B) éteignissions
    • C) éteigne
    • D) éteignions

  8. What is the gerund of éteindre?

    • A) comparant
    • B) adoptant
    • C) baissant
    • D) en éteignant

  9. What is the past participle of éteindre?

    • A) allumé
    • B) coupé
    • C) éteint
    • D) aperçu

  10. What does éteindre mean in English?

  • A) belong
  • B) lower
  • C) bring
  • D) turn off

Answer key

  1. D) éteins — the tu form of éteindre in the present indicative is éteins. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  2. C) ai éteint — the je form of éteindre in the present perfect (passé composé) is ai éteint. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  3. A) éteignait — the il/elle form of éteindre in the imperfect is éteignait. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  4. B) éteindrons — the nous form of éteindre in the future is éteindrons. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  5. D) éteindrais — the tu form of éteindre in the conditional is éteindrais. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  6. D) éteignis — the je form of éteindre in the passé simple is éteignis. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  7. D) éteignions — the nous form of éteindre in the present subjunctive is éteignions. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  8. D) en éteignant — the gerund of éteindre is en éteignant; 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. C) éteint — the past participle of éteindre is éteint; perfect tenses use avoir + éteint. The other options are the participles of neighbouring verbs.
  10. D) turn off — éteindre means “to turn off” in English. The other options are the meanings of neighbouring verbs.

Frequently asked questions

What does éteindre mean in English?

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

Is éteindre regular or irregular?

éteindre is irregular. éteindre is irregular in present, passe-simple, present-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative: those tenses do not follow the regular -re pattern, so learn them as a set rather than guessing from the infinitive. The other tenses follow the regular pattern.

What are the gerund and past participle of éteindre?

The gerund is en éteignant and the past participle is éteint. The perfect tenses use avoir + éteint.

Where can I see the full conjugation of éteindre?

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

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