Arriver Verb Conjugation: Every Tense Explained With Translations & Examples
In case Arriver Verb Conjugation seems simple but keeps causing mistakes, it’s because the verb carries many meanings in everyday French. It is one of DR MRS VANDERTRAMP verbs. From physical arrival to sudden events, this guide explains every tense clearly with real-life usage.
Let’s start with what makes arriver special.
What You Need To Know Before Conjugating Arriver
Arriver means to arrive, to reach, to happen, or to manage to do something, depending on context. It is a movement and event verb that always uses être in compound tenses. The past participle arrivé must agree in gender and number with the subject.
This rule never changes.
Indicative Mood
The indicative mood is used to express facts, events, habits, and real situations.
Present Tense (Présent)
The present tense describes actions happening now, repeated events, or general truths. In English, arriver often translates as “arrive,” “am/is/are arriving,” or sometimes “happen.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | arrive | I arrive / I am arriving |
| Tu | arrives | you arrive / you are arriving |
| Il / Elle / On | arrive | he / she arrives |
| Nous | arrivons | we arrive / we are arriving |
| Vous | arrivez | you arrive / you are arriving |
| Ils / Elles | arrivent | they arrive / they are arriving |
Examples:
- J’arrive bientôt. → I’m arriving soon.
- Elle arrive en retard. → She arrives late.
- Les invités arrivent. → The guests are arriving.
To describe repeated or ongoing arrivals in the past, French uses the imperfect.
Imperfect Tense (Imparfait)
The imperfect tense is used for ongoing past actions, repeated habits, or background situations. In English, it usually translates as “was arriving” or “used to arrive.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | arrivais | I was arriving / I used to arrive |
| Tu | arrivais | you were arriving |
| Il / Elle / On | arrivait | he / she was arriving |
| Nous | arrivions | we were arriving |
| Vous | arriviez | you were arriving |
| Ils / Elles | arrivaient | they were arriving |
Examples:
- J’arrivais toujours tôt. → I used to arrive early.
- Elle arrivait en silence. → She was arriving quietly.
- Les trains arrivaient tard. → The trains were arriving late.
To express a completed arrival or event, French uses the passé composé.
Passé Composé (Always Être)
The passé composé expresses completed actions or events. Arriver always uses être, and the past participle agrees with the subject. In English, it usually becomes “arrived” or “has arrived.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | suis arrivé(e) | I arrived / I have arrived |
| Tu | es arrivé(e) | you arrived |
| Il / Elle / On | est arrivé(e) | he / she arrived |
| Nous | sommes arrivé(e)s | we arrived |
| Vous | êtes arrivé(e)(s) | you arrived |
| Ils / Elles | sont arrivé(e)s | they arrived |
Examples:
- Je suis arrivé à Paris. → I arrived in Paris.
- Elle est arrivée tard. → She arrived late.
- Ils sont arrivés ensemble. → They arrived together.
To show that an arrival happened before another past action, French uses another tense.
Plus-Que-Parfait
The plus-que-parfait expresses an action that had already happened before another past event. In English, it usually translates as “had arrived.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | étais arrivé(e) | I had arrived |
| Tu | étais arrivé(e) | you had arrived |
| Il / Elle / On | était arrivé(e) | he / she had arrived |
| Nous | étions arrivé(e)s | we had arrived |
| Vous | étiez arrivé(e)(s) | you had arrived |
| Ils / Elles | étaient arrivé(e)s | they had arrived |
Examples:
- J’étais arrivé avant eux. → I had arrived before them.
- Elle était arrivée trop tôt. → She had arrived too early.
- Nous étions déjà arrivés. → We had already arrived.
Some tenses are mainly used in written French.
Passé Simple (Rare – Literary)
The passé simple of arriver appears mainly in novels and historical writing.
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | arrivai | I arrived |
| Tu | arrivas | you arrived |
| Il / Elle / On | arriva | he / she arrived |
| Nous | arrivâmes | we arrived |
| Vous | arrivâtes | you arrived |
| Ils / Elles | arrivèrent | they arrived |
Examples:
- Il arriva soudainement. → He arrived suddenly.
- Elle arriva en retard. → She arrived late.
- Ils arrivèrent ensemble. → They arrived together.
French also uses the future tense to talk about arrival or outcomes.
Simple Future (Futur Simple)
The future tense describes actions or events that will happen later, including arriving or something happening.
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | arriverai | I will arrive |
| Tu | arriveras | you will arrive |
| Il / Elle / On | arrivera | he / she will arrive |
| Nous | arriverons | we will arrive |
| Vous | arriverez | you will arrive |
| Ils / Elles | arriveront | they will arrive |
Examples:
- J’arriverai demain. → I will arrive tomorrow.
- Elle arrivera à temps. → She will arrive on time.
- Tout arrivera. → Everything will happen.
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive is used to express necessity, doubt, emotion, or judgment, especially when the arrival or outcome is uncertain.
Present Subjunctive
In English, this usually translates as “for someone to arrive” or “that someone should arrive.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Que je | arrive | for me to arrive / that I should arrive |
| Que tu | arrives | for you to arrive |
| Qu’il / elle / on | arrive | for him/her to arrive |
| Que nous | arrivions | for us to arrive |
| Que vous | arriviez | for you to arrive |
| Qu’ils / elles | arrivent | for them to arrive |
Examples:
- Il faut que j’arrive tôt. → I need to arrive early.
- Je veux qu’elle arrive à l’heure. → I want her to arrive on time.
- Bien qu’ils arrivent tard… → Although they arrive late…
Past Subjunctive
Used when the arrival happened before the main verb. In English, it usually becomes “to have arrived.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Que je | sois arrivé(e) | for me to have arrived |
| Que tu | sois arrivé(e) | for you to have arrived |
| Qu’il / elle / on | soit arrivé(e) | for him/her to have arrived |
| Que nous | soyons arrivé(e)s | for us to have arrived |
| Que vous | soyez arrivé(e)(s) | for you to have arrived |
| Qu’ils / elles | soient arrivé(e)s | for them to have arrived |
Examples:
- Je suis content qu’il soit arrivé. → I’m glad he arrived.
- Bien qu’elle soit arrivée… → Although she arrived…
- Je doute qu’ils soient arrivés à temps. → I doubt they arrived on time.
Conditional Mood
The conditional expresses hypothetical situations, cautious statements, or imagined outcomes.
Present Conditional
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | arriverais | I would arrive |
| Tu | arriverais | you would arrive |
| Il / Elle / On | arriverait | he / she would arrive |
| Nous | arriverions | we would arrive |
| Vous | arriveriez | you would arrive |
| Ils / Elles | arriveraient | they would arrive |
Examples:
- J’arriverais plus tôt. → I would arrive earlier.
- Elle arriverait demain. → She would arrive tomorrow.
- Tout arriverait différemment. → Everything would happen differently.
Imperative Mood
The imperative is used to give instructions, encouragement, or urgency, often in everyday speech.
Present Imperative
| Form | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| (Tu) | arrive | arrive |
| (Nous) | arrivons | let’s arrive |
| (Vous) | arrivez | arrive (formal/plural) |
Examples:
- Arrive à l’heure. → Arrive on time.
- Arrivons ensemble. → Let’s arrive together.
- Arrivez prudemment. → Arrive carefully.
FAQs
What Does The Verb Arriver Mean In French?
The French verb arriver generally means “to arrive,” “to reach,” or “to happen.” Beyond physical arrival, it is often used to talk about events, outcomes, success, or unexpected situations. Context determines whether it refers to movement, timing, or something happening.
Is Arriver A Regular Or Irregular Verb?
Arriver is a regular -er verb, so its endings follow predictable patterns across tenses. However, learners often find it tricky because it always uses être in compound tenses and appears frequently in figurative expressions that go beyond simple physical arrival.
Does Arriver Always Use Être?
Yes, arriver always uses être in compound tenses. This is because it describes movement or a change of state rather than an action done to an object. As a result, the past participle arrivé must agree in gender and number with the subject.
How Do You Conjugate Arriver In The Present Tense?
In the present tense, arriver is conjugated as j’arrive, tu arrives, il arrive, nous arrivons, vous arrivez, ils arrivent. This tense is used for actions happening now, repeated arrivals, or general statements about events.
What Is The Difference Between J’arrive And Je Suis Arrivé?
J’arrive describes an action happening now or very soon, such as “I’m arriving.” Je suis arrivé refers to a completed past action and means “I arrived” or “I have arrived.” The difference is about timing and completion.
How Do You Use Arriver In The Past Tense?
Arriver is commonly used in the passé composé to describe a completed arrival or event. Because it always uses être, the past participle agrees with the subject. In English, it usually translates as “arrived” or “has arrived.”
Why Does Arriver Agree In The Past Tense?
Arriver agrees in the past tense because it uses être. The past participle arrivé changes form depending on the gender and number of the subject. This agreement rule applies in all compound tenses without exception.
How Do You Translate Arriver In English?
Arriver can translate as “to arrive,” “to come,” “to reach,” or “to happen.” English often uses different verbs where French relies on arriver, which is why understanding context is more important than memorizing one translation.
What Is The Imperfect Tense Of Arriver Used For?
The imperfect tense of arriver is used to describe repeated or ongoing arrivals in the past. It often translates as “was arriving” or “used to arrive” and is common in storytelling and background descriptions.
How Do You Conjugate Arriver In The Imperfect Tense?
In the imperfect tense, arriver becomes j’arrivais, tu arrivais, il arrivait, nous arrivions, vous arriviez, ils arrivaient. These forms describe habitual or continuous actions in the past.
How Do You Conjugate Arriver In The Future Tense?
In the future tense, arriver is conjugated as j’arriverai, tu arriveras, il arrivera, and so on. This tense is used to talk about future arrivals, deadlines, or events that will happen later.
Can Arriver Mean To Happen?
Yes, arriver is very often used to mean “to happen.” For example, qu’est-ce qui est arrivé ? means “what happened?” This usage is extremely common in both spoken and written French.
Can Arriver Be Used To Talk About Success?
Yes, arriver à is used to express managing or succeeding at doing something. For example, arriver à comprendre means “to manage to understand.” This construction is very frequent in everyday French.
What Does Arriver À Mean?
Arriver à means “to manage to” or “to succeed in” doing something. It is followed by an infinitive and expresses effort or achievement, rather than physical movement.
When Do You Use The Subjunctive With Arriver?
The subjunctive is used with arriver after expressions of doubt, emotion, necessity, or judgment. Common triggers include il faut que, je doute que, and bien que. The focus is on uncertainty rather than fact.
How Do You Translate “Que J’arrive” In English?
“Que j’arrive” is usually translated as “for me to arrive” or “that I should arrive.” English avoids a direct subjunctive and instead uses an infinitive or modal construction to express the same idea naturally.
What Is The Past Subjunctive Of Arriver Used For?
The past subjunctive of arriver is used when the arrival or event happened before the main verb. In English, it often translates as “to have arrived” and appears after expressions of emotion or judgment.
Is The Passé Simple Of Arriver Still Used?
The passé simple of arriver still exists but is not used in spoken French. It mainly appears in novels, historical writing, and formal narratives, making it useful mainly for reading comprehension.
Can Arriver Be Used Without Mentioning A Place?
Yes, arriver can be used without specifying a location when the context is clear. For example, j’arrive bientôt simply means “I’m arriving soon,” without saying where.
Is Arriver Common In Everyday Spoken French?
Arriver is extremely common in everyday French. It is used for travel, timing, events, success, and unexpected situations. Because of its frequency and versatility, mastering it is essential for fluency.
What Are Common Mistakes Learners Make With Arriver?
Common mistakes include forgetting agreement in the past tense, confusing arriver with venir, and translating it too literally. Understanding its figurative uses helps avoid many errors.
How Is Arriver Different From Venir?
Arriver focuses on reaching a destination or outcome, while venir focuses on movement toward the speaker or a reference point. Although related, they are not interchangeable.
How Is Arriver Different From Entrer?
Arriver refers to reaching a place or moment, while entrer emphasizes physically going inside. You can arrive somewhere without necessarily entering it.
Can Arriver Be Used In Formal Writing?
Yes, arriver is used in formal writing, especially to describe outcomes, results, or events. Its meaning remains consistent, though usage is often more abstract.
Are There Idiomatic Expressions With Arriver?
Yes, French has many expressions using arriver, such as arriver à point nommé or ce qui devait arriver arriva. These expressions are common and extend the meaning beyond physical arrival.
Can Arriver Be Used Figuratively?
Yes, arriver is frequently used figuratively to describe ideas, problems, or changes occurring. These uses are extremely common in both spoken and written French.
How Do You Use Arriver With Time Expressions?
Arriver is often used with time expressions like tôt, tard, or à temps to describe punctuality. For example, arriver à l’heure means “to arrive on time.”
Can Arriver Be Used In Commands?
Yes, arriver can be used in the imperative to give instructions or encouragement, such as arrive à l’heure. This usage is common in everyday speech.
How Do You Use Arriver In The Conditional Tense?
The conditional of arriver is used for hypothetical situations or cautious statements. It usually translates as “would arrive” or “would happen” in English.
Is Arriver Used More Literally Or Figuratively?
Arriver is used both literally and figuratively, but figurative uses are extremely common. This flexibility is one reason it appears so frequently in everyday French.
How Can I Practice Arriver Effectively?
The best way to practice arriver is to use it in sentences covering movement, events, and success. Practicing with arriver à is especially important for natural usage.
Should Beginners Learn All Arriver Tenses At Once?
Beginners should focus first on the present tense, passé composé, future tense, and basic subjunctive usage. Literary tenses can be learned later to avoid overload.
Why Is Arriver Important To Learn Early?
Arriver appears constantly in daily conversation, news, and storytelling. Learning it early helps learners express timing, outcomes, and events naturally and confidently.
Final Takeaway
The Arriver Verb Conjugation is essential because arriver is used constantly to talk about movement, timing, events, and outcomes. Once you understand that it always uses être and how its meaning expands beyond physical arrival, you’ll recognize it everywhere in real French.