Éteindre Conjugation in French
éteindre means “to turn off” in English, and it is one of the verbs French learners meet early — it sits at frequency rank 310 in VerbFlow’s French list. It is a non-reflexive, irregular -re verb, and this page gives you its complete conjugation — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “J'éteins la lampe tous les jours.” — “I turn off the lamp every day.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: éteindre
- English: to turn off
- Verb type: Non-reflexive, Irregular
- Irregular in: present, passe-simple, present-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative
- Gerund: en éteignant
- Past participle: éteint
- Auxiliary: avoir (all perfect tenses are formed with avoir + the past participle)
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.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for éteindre. Learn the present tense first, then the passé composé and the imperfect, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | éteins |
| tu | éteins |
| il/elle | éteint |
| nous | éteignons |
| vous | éteignez |
| ils/elles | éteignent |
Passé simple
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | éteignis |
| tu | éteignis |
| il/elle | éteignit |
| nous | éteignîmes |
| vous | éteignîtes |
| ils/elles | éteignirent |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | éteignais |
| tu | éteignais |
| il/elle | éteignait |
| nous | éteignions |
| vous | éteigniez |
| ils/elles | éteignaient |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | éteindrai |
| tu | éteindras |
| il/elle | éteindra |
| nous | éteindrons |
| vous | éteindrez |
| ils/elles | éteindront |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | éteindrais |
| tu | éteindrais |
| il/elle | éteindrait |
| nous | éteindrions |
| vous | éteindriez |
| ils/elles | éteindraient |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | ai éteint |
| tu | as éteint |
| il/elle | a éteint |
| nous | avons éteint |
| vous | avez éteint |
| ils/elles | ont éteint |
Pluperfect (past perfect)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | avais éteint |
| tu | avais éteint |
| il/elle | avait éteint |
| nous | avions éteint |
| vous | aviez éteint |
| ils/elles | avaient éteint |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | aurai éteint |
| tu | auras éteint |
| il/elle | aura éteint |
| nous | aurons éteint |
| vous | aurez éteint |
| ils/elles | auront éteint |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | aurais éteint |
| tu | aurais éteint |
| il/elle | aurait éteint |
| nous | aurions éteint |
| vous | auriez éteint |
| ils/elles | auraient éteint |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | éteigne |
| tu | éteignes |
| il/elle | éteigne |
| nous | éteignions |
| vous | éteigniez |
| ils/elles | éteignent |
Imperfect subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | éteignisse |
| tu | éteignisses |
| il/elle | éteignît |
| nous | éteignissions |
| vous | éteignissiez |
| ils/elles | éteignissent |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | éteins |
| nous | éteignons |
| vous | éteignez |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | éteins |
| nous | éteignons |
| vous | éteignez |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | French |
|---|---|
| Gerund | en éteignant |
| Past participle | éteint |
When to use each tense
Present indicative
The present indicative is used for habits, facts and things happening now. With éteindre this tense is irregular, so the forms do not follow the regular pattern — learn them as a set rather than guessing from the infinitive. For example: “J'éteins la lampe tous les jours.” — “I turn off the lamp every day.”
Passé simple
The passé simple is used for completed actions in the past, mainly in written and literary French. With éteindre this tense is irregular, so the forms do not follow the regular pattern — learn them as a set rather than guessing from the infinitive. For example: “Tu éteignis la lampe la semaine dernière.” — “You turned off the lamp last week.”
Imperfect
The imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “Il éteignait la lampe ce matin.” — “He used to turn off the lamp this morning.”
Future
The future is used for what will happen, and for predictions. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “Nous éteindrons la lampe.” — “We will turn off the lamp.”
Conditional
The conditional is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “Vous éteindriez la lampe.” — “You would turn off the lamp.”
Present perfect
The present perfect (passé composé) is used for completed actions in the past, especially in spoken French. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “Ils ont éteint la lampe hier.” — “They have turned off the lamp yesterday.”
Pluperfect (past perfect)
The pluperfect (past perfect) is used for an action completed before another past action. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “J'avais éteint la lampe hier.” — “I had turned off the lamp yesterday.”
Future perfect
The future perfect is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “Tu auras éteint la lampe la semaine prochaine.” — “You will have turned off the lamp next week.”
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect is used for what would have happened in a different past. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “Il aurait éteint la lampe ce matin.” — “He would have turned off the lamp this morning.”
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. With éteindre this tense is irregular, so the forms do not follow the regular pattern — learn them as a set rather than guessing from the infinitive. For example: “Il est important que nous éteignions la lampe tous les jours.” — “It is important that We turn off the lamp every day.”
Imperfect subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used for the past subjunctive: wishes and hypotheticals about the past, mostly in formal and literary French. With éteindre this tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard -re pattern. For example: “Il fallait que vous éteignissiez la lampe hier.” — “It was necessary that You turn off the lamp yesterday.”
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) is used for direct commands and instructions. With éteindre this tense is irregular, so the forms do not follow the regular pattern — learn them as a set rather than guessing from the infinitive. For example: “Éteignez la lampe !” — “Turn off the lamp!”
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) is used for prohibitions and negative commands. With éteindre this tense is irregular, so the forms do not follow the regular pattern — learn them as a set rather than guessing from the infinitive. For example: “Ne éteins pas la lampe !” — “Do not turn off the lamp!”
Gerund and past participle
The gerund en éteignant is used after en for an action happening at the same time as the main verb. For example: “En éteignant, je commence la journée.” — “While turning off, I start the day.” The past participle éteint is used with avoir in the perfect tenses, as in j'ai éteint — “I have turned off the lamp yesterday.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with éteindre, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the French and try to produce it from the English.
- “J'éteins la lampe à la maison.” — “I turn off the lamp at home.”
- “Tu éteignis la lampe ce matin.” — “You turned off the lamp this morning.”
- “Il éteignait la lampe avec Paul.” — “He used to turn off the lamp with Paul.”
- “J'éteindrai la lampe demain.” — “I will turn off the lamp tomorrow.”
- “Tu éteindrais la lampe tous les jours.” — “You would turn off the lamp every day.”
- “Il a éteint la lampe la semaine dernière.” — “He has turned off the lamp last week.”
- “J'avais éteint la lampe ce matin.” — “I had turned off the lamp this morning.”
- “Tu auras éteint la lampe demain.” — “You will have turned off the lamp tomorrow.”
- “Il est important que il éteigne la lampe tous les jours.” — “It is important that He turn off the lamp every day.”
- “Éteins la lampe !” — “Turn off the lamp!”
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.
5. Using the wrong auxiliary in the passé composé
✗ Wrong: “Je suis éteint la lampe hier.”
✓ Right: “J'ai éteint la lampe hier.”
éteindre takes avoir in the compound tenses, not être: ai éteint, never the être form.
6. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “Il est important que nous éteignons la lampe.”
✓ Right: “Il est important que nous éteignions la lampe.”
After il est important que French needs the subjunctive, so use éteignions here, not the indicative éteignons.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on éteindre. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the je form of éteindre in the Present indicative?
- A) éteignons
- B) éteignis
- C) éteindrai
- D) éteins
What is the il/elle form of éteindre in the Passé simple?
- A) éteignait
- B) aurait éteint
- C) éteignit
- D) éteint
What is the nous form of éteindre in the Imperfect?
- A) avons éteint
- B) éteignions
- C) éteignais
- D) éteignons
What is the tu form of éteindre in the Future?
- A) éteindras
- B) éteindrais
- C) éteins
- D) éteignis
What is the je form of éteindre in the Conditional?
- A) éteindrais
- B) éteignisse
- C) éteignis
- D) éteigne
What is the il/elle form of éteindre in the Present subjunctive?
- A) éteigne
- B) éteint
- C) éteignent
- D) éteignit
What is the nous form of éteindre in the Present perfect (passé composé)?
- A) aurions éteint
- B) aurons éteint
- C) avons éteint
- D) ont éteint
What is the gerund of éteindre?
- A) acceptant
- B) en éteignant
- C) bougeant
- D) cassant
What is the past participle of éteindre?
- A) cessé
- B) admis
- C) éteint
- D) assisté
What does éteindre mean in English?
- A) turn on
- B) lower
- C) turn off
- D) consider
Answer key
- D) éteins — the je form of éteindre in the present indicative is éteins. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) éteignit — the il/elle form of éteindre in the passé simple is éteignit. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- B) éteignions — the nous form of éteindre in the imperfect is éteignions. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- A) éteindras — the tu form of éteindre in the future is éteindras. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- A) éteindrais — the je form of éteindre in the conditional is éteindrais. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- A) éteigne — the il/elle form of éteindre in the present subjunctive is éteigne. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- C) avons éteint — the nous form of éteindre in the present perfect (passé composé) is avons éteint. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
- B) 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.
- C) éteint — the past participle of éteindre is éteint; perfect tenses use avoir + éteint. The other options are the participles of neighbouring verbs.
- C) turn off — éteindre means “to turn off” in English. The other options are the meanings of neighbouring verbs.
How to learn this verb
Learn éteindre in three passes. First, say the present tense aloud in order — j'éteins, tu éteins, il éteint, nous éteignons, vous éteignez, ils éteignent — three times, then write three sentences with the verb. Second, learn the passé composé with its auxiliary: ai éteint shows the pattern, and the participle éteint is the same in every perfect tense. Third, add one new tense a day, always in a sentence, and test yourself the next day before you learn the next one. A verb you can use in a sentence is learnt; a verb you can only recite is not. Use the Verb Quiz and the Verb Conjugator to check what has stuck, and compare éteindre with the other verbs in this batch on the French verbs hub.
Frequently asked questions
What does éteindre mean in English?
éteindre means “to turn off”. It is a non-reflexive, irregular verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is éteindre regular or irregular?
éteindre is irregular, and it is irregular in these tenses: present, passe-simple, present-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. 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 — use it after en for an action happening at the same time as the main verb. The past participle is éteint — use it with avoir for the perfect tenses, as in j'ai éteint.
How do I say “I turn off” in French?
Say “J'éteins la lampe tous les jours.” — “I turn off the lamp every day.” The je form of the present is éteins, and it is the form you will use most often.
How do you pronounce éteindre?
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.
Related pages
- éteindre in the passé composé tense
- éteindre examples and quiz
- Terminer conjugation — another French verb in this batch.
- Ajouter conjugation — another French verb in this batch.
- French verbs — the full hub of French conjugation pages.
- French irregular verbs — every common irregular French verb, grouped by pattern.
- Spanish verbs — the full hub of Spanish conjugation pages.
- Imperfect Conjugator — practise éteindre with the interactive tool.
- Verb Quiz — practise éteindre with the interactive tool.
- Verb Ending Analyzer — practise éteindre with the interactive tool.