Traverser Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

traverser — “to cross” — is one of the verbs you will use every day in French. On this page you will find traverser 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 traverse la rue avec prudence.” — “I cross the street carefully.”

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

Example sentences with traverser

In the present tense

  • “Je traverse la rue avec prudence tous les jours.” — “I cross the street carefully.”
  • “Tu traverses la rue avec prudence souvent.” — “You cross the street carefully.”
  • “Il traverse la rue avec prudence chaque matin.” — “He crosses the street carefully.”
  • “Nous traversons la rue avec prudence le week-end.” — “We cross the street carefully.”

In the passé composé

  • “J'ai traversé la rue avec prudence hier.” — “I have crossed the street carefully.”
  • “Tu as traversé la rue avec prudence ce matin.” — “You have crossed the street carefully.”
  • “Il a traversé la rue avec prudence la semaine dernière.” — “He has crossed the street carefully.”

In the imperfect and the future

  • “Je traversais la rue avec prudence quand j’étais jeune.” — “When I was young, I used to cross the street carefully.”
  • “Nous traversions la rue avec prudence quand j’étais jeune.” — “We used to cross the street carefully.”
  • “Tu traverseras la rue avec prudence demain.” — “You will cross the street carefully tomorrow.”
  • “Ils traverseront la rue avec prudence demain.” — “They will cross the street carefully tomorrow.”

In other tenses

  • “Je traverserais la rue avec prudence si je pouvais.” — “I would cross the street carefully if I could.”
  • “Il faut que je traverse la rue avec prudence.” — “It is important that I cross the street carefully.”
  • “Traverse la rue avec prudence !” — “Cross the street carefully!” The same verb in the pluperfect: “J'avais traversé la rue avec prudence avant la fête.” — “I had crossed the street carefully before the party.”

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

Traverser in context

Dialogue 1: every day

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

Marie: “Tu traverses la rue avec prudence tous les jours ?” — “You cross the street carefully.” Paul: “Je traverse la rue avec prudence tous les jours.” — “I cross the street carefully.” Marie: “Tu as traversé la rue avec prudence hier ?” — “You have crossed the street carefully.” Paul: “J'ai traversé la rue avec prudence hier.” — “I have crossed the street carefully.” Marie: “Nous traverserons la rue avec prudence demain ?” — “We will cross the street carefully tomorrow.” Paul: “Nous traverserons la rue avec prudence demain.” — “We will cross the street carefully 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 traverserais la rue avec prudence si je pouvais.” — “I would cross the street carefully if I could.” Marie: “Tu traverses la rue avec prudence souvent ?” — “You cross the street carefully.” Paul: “Je traverse la rue avec prudence souvent.” — “I cross the street carefully.” Marie: “Traverse la rue avec prudence !” — “Cross the street carefully!” Paul: “Il faut que je traverse la rue avec prudence.” — “It is important that I cross the street carefully.” Marie: “Nous avons traversé la rue avec prudence hier.” — “We have crossed the street carefully.”

Read both dialogues aloud, changing the person each time: traverse becomes traverses, traverses becomes traverse, and so on. That is the fastest way to fix the six present forms — traverse*, traverses, traverse, traversons, traversez, *traversent — in memory.

Common mistakes with traverser

Mistake 1: Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form

Wrong: “Je traverser la rue avec prudence.”

Right: “Je traverse la rue avec prudence.”

The infinitive traverser never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form traverse.

Mistake 2: Confusing traverser with tourner

Wrong: “Je traverse à gauche au carrefour.” (meant as “tourner”)

Right: “Je traverse la rue avec prudence.”

traverser means “to cross” and tourner means “to turn”. 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 traversé la rue avec prudence.”

Right: “J'ai traversé la rue avec prudence.”

With traverser the passé composé is formed with avoir: ai traversé.

Mistake 4: Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger

Wrong: “Il faut que je traverse la rue avec prudence.”

Right: “Il faut que je traverse la rue avec prudence.”

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

Mistake 5: Mixing up the persons

Wrong: “Tu traverse la rue avec prudence.”

Right: “Tu traverses la rue avec prudence.”

After tu you need traverses, not the je form traverse.

Quiz: traverser in everyday use

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

    • A) traversons
    • B) traverses
    • C) traverse
    • D) traversez

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

    • A) traverse
    • B) traversons
    • C) traversez
    • D) traversent

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

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

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

    • A) traversait
    • B) traversaient
    • C) traversions
    • D) traversais

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

    • A) traverseras
    • B) traversera
    • C) traverserez
    • D) traverseront

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

    • A) traverserait
    • B) traverseraient
    • C) traverseriez
    • D) traverserais

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

    • A) traversent
    • B) traverse
    • C) traverses
    • D) traversions

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

    • A) traversez
    • B) traverserez
    • C) traversons
    • D) traverse

  9. What is the past participle of traverser?

    • A) traversais
    • B) traversé
    • C) traverse
    • D) en traversant

  10. What does traverser mean in English?

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

Answer key

  1. C) traverse — the je form of traverser in the present indicative is traverse.
  2. D) traversent — the ils/elles form of traverser in the present indicative is traversent.
  3. B) as traversé — the tu form of traverser in the present perfect (passé composé) is as traversé.
  4. C) traversions — the nous form of traverser in the imperfect is traversions.
  5. B) traversera — the il/elle form of traverser in the future is traversera.
  6. D) traverserais — the je form of traverser in the conditional is traverserais.
  7. C) traverses — the tu form of traverser in the present subjunctive is traverses.
  8. D) traverse — the tu form of traverser in the imperative (affirmative) is traverse.
  9. B) traversé — the past participle of traverser is traversé; perfect tenses use avoir + traversé.
  10. C) to cross — traverser means “to cross” in English.

Frequently asked questions

What does traverser mean in English?

traverser means “to cross”. You use it in everyday situations like the examples on this page — for example, “Je traverse la rue avec prudence.” (“I cross the street carefully.”).

Which auxiliary does traverser take in the passé composé?

traverser takes avoir: ai traversé. Because the auxiliary is avoir, the participle normally stays invariable.

What is the hardest form of traverser to remember?

Most learners struggle with keeping the six persons apart — traverse*, traverses, traverse, traversons, traversez, *traversent. 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 traverser?

On the full conjugation page for traverser, which has every tense, and on the traverser 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 cross the street carefully.” should become “Je traverse la rue avec prudence”. Then try the passé composé: “I have crossed the street carefully.” should become “J'ai traversé la rue avec prudence”. Finally, try the future: “I will cross the street carefully tomorrow.” should become “Je traverserai la rue avec prudence”. 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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