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Verb conjugation

constater

to note, notice; to certify

Usage

Constater means to note or officially record a fact you've observed — a doctor constate un décès (certifies a death), a police officer constate une infraction, or more casually, simply noticing something (je constate que tu es en retard). It implies an objective, often official, observation.

Examples
  • Le médecin a constaté le décès à 22h.The doctor certified the death at 10pm.
  • Nous avons constaté une nette amélioration.We noted a clear improvement.
  • Je constate que rien n'a changé.I notice that nothing has changed.
Common mistake

Constater is about objectively noting a fact, not complaining or commenting subjectively — 'je constate que c'est nul' can come across as a formal-sounding, almost official way to voice a complaint, which is often exactly the ironic effect a French speaker intends.

Simple tenses

Present

jeconstate
tuconstates
il/elleconstate
nousconstatons
vousconstatez
ils/ellesconstatent

Imperfect

jeconstatais
tuconstatais
il/elleconstatait
nousconstations
vousconstatiez
ils/ellesconstataient

Past historic (passé simple)

jeconstatai
tuconstatas
il/elleconstata
nousconstatâmes
vousconstatâtes
ils/ellesconstatèrent

Future

jeconstaterai
tuconstateras
il/elleconstatera
nousconstaterons
vousconstaterez
ils/ellesconstateront

Conditional

jeconstaterais
tuconstaterais
il/elleconstaterait
nousconstaterions
vousconstateriez
ils/ellesconstateraient

Subjunctive

jeconstate
tuconstates
il/elleconstate
nousconstations
vousconstatiez
ils/ellesconstatent

Subjunctive (imperfect)

jeconstatasse
tuconstatasses
il/elleconstatât
nousconstatassions
vousconstatassiez
ils/ellesconstatassent

Imperative

tuconstate
nousconstatons
vousconstatez

Compound tenses

Passé composé

jeai constaté
tuas constaté
il/ellea constaté
nousavons constaté
vousavez constaté
ils/ellesont constaté

Plus-que-parfait

jeavais constaté
tuavais constaté
il/elleavait constaté
nousavions constaté
vousaviez constaté
ils/ellesavaient constaté

Passé antérieur

jeeus constaté
tueus constaté
il/elleeut constaté
nouseûmes constaté
vouseûtes constaté
ils/elleseurent constaté

Futur antérieur

jeaurai constaté
tuauras constaté
il/elleaura constaté
nousaurons constaté
vousaurez constaté
ils/ellesauront constaté

Conditionnel passé

jeaurais constaté
tuaurais constaté
il/elleaurait constaté
nousaurions constaté
vousauriez constaté
ils/ellesauraient constaté

Subjonctif passé

jeaie constaté
tuaies constaté
il/elleait constaté
nousayons constaté
vousayez constaté
ils/ellesaient constaté

Subjonctif plus-que-parfait

jeeusse constaté
tueusses constaté
il/elleeût constaté
nouseussions constaté
vouseussiez constaté
ils/elleseussent constaté

Impératif passé

tuaie constaté
nousayons constaté
vousayez constaté

Other

Present participle

constatant

Past participle

constaté

Infinitive

constater

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "constater" mean?

"constater" means "to note, notice; to certify".

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

The present of "constater" is: je constate, tu constates, il/elle constate, nous constatons, vous constatez, ils/elles constatent.

What is the Passé composé of "constater"?

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

What is the Imperative of "constater"?

The imperative of "constater" is: tu constate, nous constatons, vous constatez.