French Verb Conjugations
| Present | Imperfect | Future | Conditional | Subjunctive | Imperfect subj. | |||
| je | retiens | retenais | retiendrai | retiendrais | retienne | retinsse | ||
| tu | retiens | retenais | retiendras | retiendrais | retiennes | retinsses | ||
| il | retient | retenait | retiendra | retiendrait | retienne | retînt | ||
| nous | retenons | retenions | retiendrons | retiendrions | retenions | retinssions | ||
| vous | retenez | reteniez | retiendrez | retiendriez | reteniez | retinssiez | ||
| ils | retiennent | retenaient | retiendront | retiendraient | retiennent | retinssent | ||
| Passé composé | Past perfect | Future perfect | Past conditional | Past subjunctive | Pluperfect subj. | |||
| j’ | ai retenu | avais retenu | aurai retenu | aurais retenu | aie retenu | eusse retenu | ||
| tu | as retenu | avais retenu | auras retenu | aurais retenu | aies retenu | eusses retenu | ||
| il | a retenu | avait retenu | aura retenu | aurait retenu | ait retenu | eût retenu | ||
| nous | avons retenu | avions retenu | aurons retenu | aurions retenu | ayons retenu | eussions retenu | ||
| vous | avez retenu | aviez retenu | aurez retenu | auriez retenu | ayez retenu | eussiez retenu | ||
| ils | ont retenu | avaient retenu | auront retenu | auraient retenu | aient retenu | eussent retenu | ||
| Passé simple | Past anterior | Imperative | Participles | |||||
| je | retins | eus retenu | (tu) | retiens | Present | retenant | ||
| tu | retins | eus retenu | (nous) | retenons | Past | retenu | ||
| il | retint | eut retenu | (vous) | retenez | Perfect | ayant retenu | ||
| nous | retînmes | eûmes retenu | Past imperative | |||||
| vous | retîntes | eûtes retenu | (tu) | aie retenu | Past infinitive | |||
| ils | retinrent | eurent retenu | (nous) | ayons retenu | avoir retenu | |||
| (vous) | ayez retenu | |||||||
Retenir is an irregular -ir verb.
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The mountain of French verb conjugations you have to learn can be overwhelming – even just in the classroom where you have plenty of time to think about the correct response. Once you start talking to people in the real world, trying to figure out the appropriate verb conjugation can leave you speechless – literally. So what’s the solution? Learn, then practice, practice, practice!
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