Verb conjugation

clencher

to use the doorknob of a door so as to open or close it

Usage

A regional verb (Lorraine, Normandy, and widely in Quebec, where it was brought by 17th-century Norman settlers) meaning to work a door handle or latch to open or close it.

Examples

Il a clenché la porte sans faire de bruit. — He worked the door latch quietly.
Au Québec, on dit clencher pour ouvrir la porte. — In Quebec, people say clencher for opening a door.
Elle a clenché puis poussé la vieille porte de bois. — She worked the latch and then pushed the old wooden door.

Common mistake

Clencher is regional, not standard in most of France — ouvrir la porte (to open the door) is the neutral, universally understood phrasing to use instead.

Simple tenses

Present

je	clenche
tu	clenches
il/elle	clenche
nous	clenchons
vous	clenchez
ils/elles	clenchent

Imperfect

je	clenchais
tu	clenchais
il/elle	clenchait
nous	clenchions
vous	clenchiez
ils/elles	clenchaient

Past historic (passé simple)

je	clenchai
tu	clenchas
il/elle	clencha
nous	clenchâmes
vous	clenchâtes
ils/elles	clenchèrent

Future

je	clencherai
tu	clencheras
il/elle	clenchera
nous	clencherons
vous	clencherez
ils/elles	clencheront

Conditional

je	clencherais
tu	clencherais
il/elle	clencherait
nous	clencherions
vous	clencheriez
ils/elles	clencheraient

Subjunctive

je	clenche
tu	clenches
il/elle	clenche
nous	clenchions
vous	clenchiez
ils/elles	clenchent

Subjunctive (imperfect)

je	clenchasse
tu	clenchasses
il/elle	clenchât
nous	clenchassions
vous	clenchassiez
ils/elles	clenchassent

Imperative

tu	clenche
nous	clenchons
vous	clenchez

Compound tenses

Passé composé

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

Plus-que-parfait

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

Passé antérieur

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

Futur antérieur

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

Conditionnel passé

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

Subjonctif passé

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

Subjonctif plus-que-parfait

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

Impératif passé

tu	aie clenché
nous	ayons clenché
vous	ayez clenché

Other

Present participle

clenchant

Past participle

clenché

Infinitive

clencher

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "clencher" mean?

"clencher" means "to use the doorknob of a door so as to open or close it".

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

The present of "clencher" is: je clenche, tu clenches, il/elle clenche, nous clenchons, vous clenchez, ils/elles clenchent.

What is the Passé composé of "clencher"?

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

What is the Imperative of "clencher"?

The imperative of "clencher" is: tu clenche, nous clenchons, vous clenchez.

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