Avancer Verb Conjugation, Meaning & Useful Tenses (With English Translations)
Meaning: to move forward / to advance
Type: Regular – ER verb (with minor spelling change: c → ç before “a” / “o”)
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Uses: movement, progress, physical or metaphorical advancement
Présent (Present Tense)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je | j’avance | I move forward / I’m moving forward |
| tu | avances | you move forward / you’re moving forward |
| il/elle/on | avance | he/she/one moves forward / is moving forward |
| nous | avançons | we move forward / we are moving forward |
| vous | avancez | you move forward / you are moving forward |
| ils/elles | avancent | they move forward / they are moving forward |
Passé Composé (Past – Completed Actions)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je | ai avancé | I moved forward |
| tu | as avancé | you moved forward |
| il/elle/on | a avancé | he/she/one moved forward |
| nous | avons avancé | we moved forward |
| vous | avez avancé | you moved forward |
| ils/elles | ont avancé | they moved forward |
Imparfait (Past – Ongoing / Used To)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je | j’avançais | I used to move forward / I was moving forward |
| tu | avançais | you used to move forward / you were moving forward |
| il/elle/on | avançait | he/she/one used to move forward / was moving forward |
| nous | avançions | we used to move forward / were moving forward |
| vous | avançiez | you used to move forward / were moving forward |
| ils/elles | avançaient | they used to move forward / were moving forward |
Passé Récent (Recent Past – “Just did…”)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je | viens d’avancer | I just moved forward |
| tu | viens d’avancer | you just moved forward |
| il/elle/on | vient d’avancer | he/she/one just moved forward |
| nous | venons d’avancer | we just moved forward |
| vous | venez d’avancer | you just moved forward |
| ils/elles | viennent d’avancer | they just moved forward |
Futur Proche (Near Future – “Going to…”)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je | vais avancer | I’m going to move forward |
| tu | vas avancer | you’re going to move forward |
| il/elle/on | va avancer | he/she/one is going to move forward |
| nous | allons avancer | we’re going to move forward |
| vous | allez avancer | you’re going to move forward |
| ils/elles | vont avancer | they’re going to move forward |
Futur Simple (“Will…”)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je | avancerai | I will move forward |
| tu | avanceras | you will move forward |
| il/elle/on | avancera | he/she/one will move forward |
| nous | avancerons | we will move forward |
| vous | avancerez | you will move forward |
| ils/elles | avanceront | they will move forward |
Conditionnel Présent (Would…)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| je | avancerais | I would move forward |
| tu | avancerais | you would move forward |
| il/elle/on | avancerait | he/she/one would move forward |
| nous | avancerions | we would move forward |
| vous | avanceriez | you would move forward |
| ils/elles | avanceraient | they would move forward |
Subjonctif Présent (after expressions of emotion, doubt, necessity, …)
| Subject | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| que j’ | avance | that I move forward |
| que tu | avances | that you move forward |
| qu’il/elle/on | avance | that he/she/one move forward |
| que nous | avancions | that we move forward |
| que vous | avanciez | that you move forward |
| qu’ils/elles | avancent | that they move forward |
Impératif Présent (Commands)
| Form | French form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tu | avance | move forward! |
| nous | avançons | let’s move forward! |
| vous | avancez | move forward! (plural / formal) |
Participes
| Form | French | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Participe présent | avançant | moving forward |
| Participe passé | avancé | moved forward |
Gérondif
| Form | French | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| en avançant | en avançant | while moving forward |