Verb conjugation

acquitter

to pay; to acknowledge (a signal), to notify the receipt of

Usage

Acquitter has two common uses: in law, to acquit someone of a crime (le jury a acquitté l'accusé), and in finance, to pay off a debt (acquitter une facture). The reflexive s'acquitter de means to fulfill or discharge a duty or obligation.

Examples

Le tribunal a acquitté l'accusé faute de preuves. — The court acquitted the defendant for lack of evidence.
Il a acquitté sa dette avant la date limite. — He paid off his debt before the deadline.
Elle s'est acquittée de ses obligations avec sérieux. — She fulfilled her obligations conscientiously.

Common mistake

Learners confuse acquitter (to acquit/pay off) with the reflexive s'acquitter de (to fulfill a duty) — the reflexive form shifts the meaning from a one-time verdict or payment to discharging an ongoing responsibility.

Often confused with condamner.

Simple tenses

Present

je	acquitte
tu	acquittes
il/elle	acquitte
nous	acquittons
vous	acquittez
ils/elles	acquittent

Imperfect

je	acquittais
tu	acquittais
il/elle	acquittait
nous	acquittions
vous	acquittiez
ils/elles	acquittaient

Past historic (passé simple)

je	acquittai
tu	acquittas
il/elle	acquitta
nous	acquittâmes
vous	acquittâtes
ils/elles	acquittèrent

Future

je	acquitterai
tu	acquitteras
il/elle	acquittera
nous	acquitterons
vous	acquitterez
ils/elles	acquitteront

Conditional

je	acquitterais
tu	acquitterais
il/elle	acquitterait
nous	acquitterions
vous	acquitteriez
ils/elles	acquitteraient

Subjunctive

je	acquitte
tu	acquittes
il/elle	acquitte
nous	acquittions
vous	acquittiez
ils/elles	acquittent

Subjunctive (imperfect)

je	acquittasse
tu	acquittasses
il/elle	acquittât
nous	acquittassions
vous	acquittassiez
ils/elles	acquittassent

Imperative

tu	acquitte
nous	acquittons
vous	acquittez

Compound tenses

Passé composé

je	ai acquitté
tu	as acquitté
il/elle	a acquitté
nous	avons acquitté
vous	avez acquitté
ils/elles	ont acquitté

Plus-que-parfait

je	avais acquitté
tu	avais acquitté
il/elle	avait acquitté
nous	avions acquitté
vous	aviez acquitté
ils/elles	avaient acquitté

Passé antérieur

je	eus acquitté
tu	eus acquitté
il/elle	eut acquitté
nous	eûmes acquitté
vous	eûtes acquitté
ils/elles	eurent acquitté

Futur antérieur

je	aurai acquitté
tu	auras acquitté
il/elle	aura acquitté
nous	aurons acquitté
vous	aurez acquitté
ils/elles	auront acquitté

Conditionnel passé

je	aurais acquitté
tu	aurais acquitté
il/elle	aurait acquitté
nous	aurions acquitté
vous	auriez acquitté
ils/elles	auraient acquitté

Subjonctif passé

je	aie acquitté
tu	aies acquitté
il/elle	ait acquitté
nous	ayons acquitté
vous	ayez acquitté
ils/elles	aient acquitté

Subjonctif plus-que-parfait

je	eusse acquitté
tu	eusses acquitté
il/elle	eût acquitté
nous	eussions acquitté
vous	eussiez acquitté
ils/elles	eussent acquitté

Impératif passé

tu	aie acquitté
nous	ayons acquitté
vous	ayez acquitté

Other

Present participle

acquittant

Past participle

acquitté

Infinitive

acquitter

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "acquitter" mean?

"acquitter" means "to pay; to acknowledge (a signal), to notify the receipt of".

How do you conjugate "acquitter" in the present tense?

The present of "acquitter" is: je acquitte, tu acquittes, il/elle acquitte, nous acquittons, vous acquittez, ils/elles acquittent.

What is the Passé composé of "acquitter"?

The passé composé of "acquitter" is: je ai acquitté, tu as acquitté, il/elle a acquitté, nous avons acquitté, vous avez acquitté, ils/elles ont acquitté.

What is the Imperative of "acquitter"?

The imperative of "acquitter" is: tu acquitte, nous acquittons, vous acquittez.

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