Conjugate connaître/paraître and derivatives in the present tense in French (Le Présent)
The verb connaître, paraître and other verbs in -aître* are irregular in Le Présent (Indicatif) in French.
Have a look!
Conjugation of CONNAÎTRE (to know) in Le Présent (Indicatif) in French
|
je |
connais |
|
tu |
connais |
|
il / elle / on |
connaît |
|
nous |
connaissons |
|
vous |
connaissez |
|
ils / elles |
connaissent |
Conjugation of PARAÎTRE (to seem / to appear) in Le Présent (Indicatif) in French
|
je |
parais |
|
tu |
parais |
|
il / elle / on |
paraît |
|
nous |
paraissons |
|
vous |
paraissez |
|
ils / elles |
paraissent |
Note that since the Spelling Reform of 1990, the following spellings are also considered as correct: il connait / il parait
Here are some examples to listen to:
Je ne connais pas son nom.I don't know her name.
Tu parais fatiguée.You seem tired.
Elle connaît ses tables de multiplication.She knows her times tables.
Nous paraissons plus jeunes que nous le sommes.We look younger than we are.
Vous paraissez inquiets.You seem worried.
Ils connaissent Paul?Do they know Paul?
*These other verbs ending in -aître (-aitre) follow the same conjugation pattern:
reconnaître (to recognise)
naître (to be born)
renaître (to be born again)
disparaître (to disappear)
apparaître (to appear)
méconnaître (to misjudge / to not know well)
comparaître (to appear in court)
naître (to be born)
renaître (to be born again)
disparaître (to disappear)
apparaître (to appear)
méconnaître (to misjudge / to not know well)
comparaître (to appear in court)
Here are more examples:
Je reconnais ce tableau.I recognise this painting.
Parfois, tu disparais pendant des heures.Sometimes, you disappear for hours.
Son nom apparaît sur les deux listes.His name shows up on both lists.
Nous ne vous reconnaissons pas.We don't recognise you.
Vous comparaissez devant le tribunal pour conduite en état d'ivresse..You're appearing before the court for drunk driving.
Quatre bébés naissent toutes les secondes sur Terre.Four babies are born every second on Earth.
See also: Connaître vs savoir = to know something vs to know how to do in French
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