Present
now, habits- je crainsje
- tu crainstu
- il/elle craintil/elle
- nous craignonsnous
- vous craignezvous
- ils/elles craignentils/elles
Sounds the same: crains = craint
craindre
Irregularto fear
- Helper verb
- avoir
- j’ai craint
- Past participle
- craint
- no agreement with the subject
- Future stem
- craindr-
- the infinitive minus -e
The whole verb in three stems
The colours carry through every table below.crain-je · tu · ilcrains · craint
craign-nous · vous · ils · imparfaitcraignons · craignez · craignent
craindr-futur simplecraindrai · craindras · craindra
Conjugation
Passé composé
completed past- j’ai craintje
- tu as crainttu
- il/elle a craintil/elle
- nous avons craintnous
- vous avez craintvous
- ils/elles ont craintils/elles
Sounds the same: as craint = a craint
Imparfait
ongoing past- je craignaisje
- tu craignaistu
- il/elle craignaitil/elle
- nous craignionsnous
- vous craigniezvous
- ils/elles craignaientils/elles
Sounds the same: craignais = craignait = craignaient
Futur proche
about to- je vais craindreje
- tu vas craindretu
- il/elle va craindreil/elle
- nous allons craindrenous
- vous allez craindrevous
- ils/elles vont craindreils/elles
Sounds the same: vas craindre = va craindre
Futur simple
will- je craindraije
- tu craindrastu
- il/elle craindrail/elle
- nous craindronsnous
- vous craindrezvous
- ils/elles craindrontils/elles
Sounds the same: craindrai = craindrez · craindras = craindra · craindrons = craindront
Three more forms: passé récent, impératif, gérondifNot scored on TEF/TCF, but common past A2
Which tenses each level needs, and why, is explained once on the conjugator hub.
B1–B2 tenses
What TEF/TCF marks you on at NCLC 7 and above. When to use each →Conditionnel présent B1
would, polite requests- je craindraisje
- tu craindraistu
- il/elle craindraitil/elle
- nous craindrionsnous
- vous craindriezvous
- ils/elles craindraientils/elles
Plus-que-parfait B1
had done- j’avais craintje
- tu avais crainttu
- il/elle avait craintil/elle
- nous avions craintnous
- vous aviez craintvous
- ils/elles avaient craintils/elles
Subjonctif présent B1
after il faut que, je veux que…- que je craigneque je
- que tu craignesque tu
- qu’il/elle craignequ’il/elle
- que nous craignionsque nous
- que vous craigniezque vous
- qu’ils/elles craignentqu’ils/elles
Futur antérieur B1
will have done- j’aurai craintje
- tu auras crainttu
- il/elle aura craintil/elle
- nous aurons craintnous
- vous aurez craintvous
- ils/elles auront craintils/elles
Conditionnel passé B2
would have done- j’aurais craintje
- tu aurais crainttu
- il/elle aurait craintil/elle
- nous aurions craintnous
- vous auriez craintvous
- ils/elles auraient craintils/elles
Subjonctif passé B2
que… has done- que j’aie craintque je
- que tu aies craintque tu
- qu’il/elle ait craintqu’il/elle
- que nous ayons craintque nous
- que vous ayez craintque vous
- qu’ils/elles aient craintqu’ils/elles
Passé simple B2
books and history: read only- je craignisje
- tu craignistu
- il/elle craignitil/elle
- nous craignîmesnous
- vous craignîtesvous
- ils/elles craignirentils/elles
Recognise it in reading; write and say the passé composé.
How to use craindre
Craindre means to fear or dread, expressing genuine anxiety or concern. It takes a direct object (what is feared) or appears with 'de + infinitive' for actions feared.
Like other -aincre verbs, craindre inserts 'qu' before a, o, u to preserve the soft 'c' sound. Present singular (crains) stands alone, but nous/vous/ils forms add 'qu' (craignons, craignez, craignent), and the same pattern appears throughout imparfait (craignais vs craignions).
Je crains les examens.
ਮੈਂ ਪ੍ਰੀਖਿਆਵਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਡਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।
I fear exams.
Practice
A table won’t make it automatic.A1 · GamePresent tense drill →That one tense, as gaps in real sentencesA2 · GameAll five tenses mixed →Weakest form firstB1 · GameConditionnel drill →Futur stem + imparfait endings, in sentencesB2 · GameSubjonctif or indicatif? →Which mood the trigger wantsB2 · GameSi-clauses and the conditionnel passé →Si + plus-que-parfait, never si + auraitB2 · PathwayThe B2 pathway →The B1–B2 tenses in teaching order, with the lessons