Terminer Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

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

Example sentences with terminer

In the present tense

  • “Je termine le projet tous les jours.” — “I finish the project every day.”
  • “Tu termines le projet à la maison.” — “You finish the project at home.”
  • “Il termine le projet ce matin.” — “He finishes the project this morning.”
  • “Nous terminons le projet avec Paul.” — “We finish the project with Paul.”
  • “Vous terminez le projet.” — “You finish the project.”
  • “Ils terminent le projet tous les jours.” — “They finish the project every day.”

In the passé composé

  • “J'ai terminé le projet hier.” — “I have finished the project yesterday.”
  • “Tu as terminé le projet la semaine dernière.” — “You have finished the project last week.”
  • “Il a terminé le projet ce matin.” — “He has finished the project this morning.”
  • “Nous avons terminé le projet avant la fête.” — “We have finished the project before the party.”
  • “Vous avez terminé le projet.” — “You have finished the project.”
  • “Ils ont terminé le projet hier.” — “They have finished the project 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 terminais le projet à la maison.” — “I used to finish the project at home.”
  • “Tu termineras le projet bientôt.” — “You will finish the project soon.”
  • “Il terminerait le projet avec Paul.” — “He would finish the project with Paul.”
  • “Il est important que nous terminions le projet tous les jours.” — “It is important that We finish the project every day.”
  • “Termine le projet !” — “Finish the project!”

Terminer in context

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

✓ Right: “Je termine le projet tous les jours.”

The infinitive terminer never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form termine.

2. Using the wrong person

✗ Wrong: “Je termines le projet.”

✓ Right: “Je termine le projet tous les jours.”

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

3. Using the present for a finished past action

✗ Wrong: “Je termine le projet hier.”

✓ Right: “J'ai terminé le projet hier.”

Hier points to the past, so use the present perfect ai terminé here, not the present termine.

4. Mixing up the stem in the stressed forms

✗ Wrong: “Je terminons le projet.”

✓ Right: “Je termine le projet tous les jours.”

terminons is the nous form. The je form is termine — the two persons never share a form in the present of terminer.

Quiz: test yourself

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

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

    • A) avais terminé
    • B) terminais
    • C) terminas
    • D) termines

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

    • A) a terminé
    • B) ai terminé
    • C) terminais
    • D) avez terminé

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

    • A) terminions
    • B) termine
    • C) terminait
    • D) terminerait

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

    • A) termineras
    • B) terminerons
    • C) terminions
    • D) aurions terminé

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

    • A) termineraient
    • B) terminerais
    • C) aurais terminé
    • D) terminas

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

    • A) terminai
    • B) terminâtes
    • C) terminèrent
    • D) terminas

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

    • A) terminassions
    • B) terminions
    • C) terminons
    • D) aurions terminé

  8. What is the gerund of terminer?

    • A) convainquant
    • B) calmant
    • C) ajoutant
    • D) en terminant

  9. What is the past participle of terminer?

    • A) terminé
    • B) ajouté
    • C) chargé
    • D) comparé

  10. What does terminer mean in English?

  • A) finish
  • B) shine
  • C) load
  • D) accompany

Answer key

  1. D) termines — the tu form of terminer in the present indicative is termines. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  2. B) ai terminé — the je form of terminer in the present perfect (passé composé) is ai terminé. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  3. C) terminait — the il/elle form of terminer in the imperfect is terminait. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  4. B) terminerons — the nous form of terminer in the future is terminerons. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  5. B) terminerais — the tu form of terminer in the conditional is terminerais. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  6. A) terminai — the je form of terminer in the passé simple is terminai. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  7. B) terminions — the nous form of terminer in the present subjunctive is terminions. The other options are forms of the same verb for different persons or tenses.
  8. D) en terminant — the gerund of terminer is en terminant; 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) terminé — the past participle of terminer is terminé; perfect tenses use avoir + terminé. The other options are the participles of neighbouring verbs.
  10. A) finish — terminer means “to finish” in English. The other options are the meanings of neighbouring verbs.

Frequently asked questions

What does terminer mean in English?

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

Is terminer regular or irregular?

terminer is regular. terminer 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 terminer?

The gerund is en terminant and the past participle is terminé. The perfect tenses use avoir + terminé.

Where can I see the full conjugation of terminer?

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

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