Descendre Verb Conjugation: Every Tense Explained With Translations & Examples
Is Descendre Verb Conjugation confusing because the verb sometimes means “to go down” and other times “to take something down”? It is one of DR MRS VANDERTRAMP verbs. Descendre is a common French verb used for movement, reduction, removal, and even getting off public transport. This guide explains every tense and mood clearly, with natural translations and real-life examples that show how descendre actually works.
Let’s begin with what makes descendre special.
What You Need To Know Before Conjugating Descendre
Descendre means to go down, to come down, to get off, or to take down depending on context. It can use être when expressing movement without a direct object and avoir when there is a direct object. This auxiliary switch directly affects meaning and agreement.
Understanding this distinction is essential.
Indicative Mood
The indicative mood is used to express facts, real actions, habits, movement, and concrete situations.
Present Tense (Présent)
The present tense is used for actions happening now, repeated actions, or general truths. In English, descendre often translates as “go down,” “come down,” or “am/is/are going down.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | descends | I go down / I am going down |
| Tu | descends | you go down / you are going down |
| Il / Elle / On | descend | he / she goes down |
| Nous | descendons | we go down / we are going down |
| Vous | descendez | you go down / you are going down |
| Ils / Elles | descendent | they go down / they are going down |
Examples:
- Je descends les escaliers. → I’m going down the stairs.
- Elle descend souvent ici. → She often comes down here.
- Ils descendent ensemble. → They are going down together.
Now let’s see how French talks about going down in the past.
Imperfect Tense (Imparfait)
The imperfect tense is used for ongoing past actions, repeated habits, or background descriptions. In English, it usually translates as “was going down” or “used to go down.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | descendais | I was going down / I used to go down |
| Tu | descendais | you were going down |
| Il / Elle / On | descendait | he / she was going down |
| Nous | descendions | we were going down |
| Vous | descendiez | you were going down |
| Ils / Elles | descendaient | they were going down |
Examples:
- Je descendais tous les matins. → I used to go down every morning.
- Elle descendait lentement. → She was going down slowly.
- Les prix descendaient. → Prices were going down.
To express a completed action, French uses the passé composé.
Passé Composé (Avoir Or Être)
The passé composé expresses completed actions. Descendre uses être when it expresses movement and avoir when there is a direct object. The auxiliary choice changes meaning and agreement.
| Structure | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Avoir | j’ai descendu | I took down |
| Être | je suis descendu(e) | I went down / I got off |
Examples:
- J’ai descendu les valises. → I took the suitcases down.
- Elle est descendue du bus. → She got off the bus.
- Nous avons descendu la table. → We took the table down.
When one action happened before another in the past, French uses another tense.
Plus-Que-Parfait
The plus-que-parfait shows that an action had already happened before another past event. In English, it usually becomes “had gone down” or “had taken down.”
| Structure | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Avoir | j’avais descendu | I had taken down |
| Être | j’étais descendu(e) | I had gone down |
Examples:
- J’avais descendu les cartons. → I had taken down the boxes.
- Elle était descendue trop tôt. → She had gone down too early.
- Nous avions descendu le rideau. → We had pulled the curtain down.
Some tenses are mainly useful for reading and formal writing.
Passé Simple (Rare – Literary)
The passé simple is not used in spoken French. It mainly appears in novels and formal narratives.
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | descendis | I went down |
| Tu | descendis | you went down |
| Il / Elle / On | descendit | he / she went down |
| Nous | descendîmes | we went down |
| Vous | descendîtes | you went down |
| Ils / Elles | descendirent | they went down |
Examples:
- Il descendit la colline. → He went down the hill.
- Elle descendit en silence. → She went down quietly.
- Ils descendirent ensemble. → They went down together.
French also uses the future tense to talk about later movement or decrease.
Simple Future (Futur Simple)
The future tense describes actions that will happen later, including going down, getting off, or reducing something.
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | descendrai | I will go down |
| Tu | descendras | you will go down |
| Il / Elle / On | descendra | he / she will go down |
| Nous | descendrons | we will go down |
| Vous | descendrez | you will go down |
| Ils / Elles | descendront | they will go down |
Examples:
- Je descendrai plus tard. → I will go down later.
- Les prix descendront bientôt. → Prices will go down soon.
- Nous descendrons ensemble. → We will go down together.
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive is used to express necessity, emotion, doubt, or judgment, especially when the action of going down is expected or uncertain.
Present Subjunctive
In English, this usually translates as “for someone to go down” or “that someone should go down.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Que je | descende | for me to go down / that I should go down |
| Que tu | descendes | for you to go down / that you should go down |
| Qu’il / elle / on | descende | for him/her to go down / that he/she should go down |
| Que nous | descendions | for us to go down / that we should go down |
| Que vous | descendiez | for you to go down / that you should go down |
| Qu’ils / elles | descendent | for them to go down / that they should go down |
Examples:
- Il faut que je descende. → I need to go down.
- Je veux qu’elle descende. → I want her to go down.
- Bien qu’ils descendent tard… → Although they go down late…
Past Subjunctive
Used when the action happened before the main verb. In English, this usually becomes “to have gone down.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Que je | sois descendu(e) | for me to have gone down |
| Que tu | sois descendu(e) | for you to have gone down |
| Qu’il / elle / on | soit descendu(e) | for him/her to have gone down |
| Que nous | soyons descendu(e)s | for us to have gone down |
| Que vous | soyez descendu(e)(s) | for you to have gone down |
| Qu’ils / elles | soient descendu(e)s | for them to have gone down |
Examples:
- Je regrette qu’il soit descendu. → I regret that he went down.
- Bien qu’elle soit descendue… → Although she went down…
- Je suis content qu’ils soient descendus. → I’m glad they went down.
Conditional Mood
The conditional expresses hypothetical actions, polite suggestions, or imagined outcomes.
Present Conditional
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | descendrais | I would go down |
| Tu | descendrais | you would go down |
| Il / Elle / On | descendrait | he / she would go down |
| Nous | descendrions | we would go down |
| Vous | descendriez | you would go down |
| Ils / Elles | descendraient | they would go down |
Examples:
- Je descendrais si je pouvais. → I would go down if I could.
- Elle descendrait plus tard. → She would go down later.
- Nous descendrions ensemble. → We would go down together.
Imperative Mood
The imperative is used to give instructions, encouragement, or orders, focusing on action rather than time.
Present Imperative
| Form | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| (Tu) | descends | go down |
| (Nous) | descendons | let’s go down |
| (Vous) | descendez | go down (formal/plural) |
Examples:
- Descends maintenant. → Go down now.
- Descendons ensemble. → Let’s go down together.
- Descendez calmement. → Go down calmly.
FAQs
What Does The Verb Descendre Mean In French?
The French verb descendre generally means “to go down,” “to come down,” “to get off,” or “to take down.” Its meaning depends heavily on context and whether there is a direct object. Because of this flexibility, it is widely used in both literal and figurative situations.
Is Descendre A Regular Or Irregular Verb?
Descendre is an irregular verb. While some endings resemble regular patterns, its stem changes in the present tense and does not follow standard -er verb rules. Learners must memorize its present forms and understand how it behaves differently when paired with avoir or être.
Does Descendre Use Avoir Or Être?
Descendre can use both auxiliaries. It uses être when it expresses movement downward without a direct object, such as getting off transportation. It uses avoir when there is a direct object, such as taking something down from a place.
How Do You Conjugate Descendre In The Present Tense?
In the present tense, descendre is conjugated as je descends, tu descends, il descend, nous descendons, vous descendez, ils descendent. This tense is used for actions happening now, repeated actions, or general truths.
What Is The Difference Between Je Descends And Je Suis Descendu?
Je descends refers to an action happening now or regularly, such as “I’m going down.” Je suis descendu refers to a completed past action and means “I went down” or “I got off.” The difference is mainly about time and completion.
What Is The Difference Between Je Suis Descendu And J’ai Descendu?
Je suis descendu focuses on movement and uses être. J’ai descendu focuses on an action done to an object and uses avoir. For example, j’ai descendu les valises means “I took the suitcases down.”
How Do You Use Descendre In The Past Tense?
Descendre is commonly used in the passé composé. With être, it describes movement or getting off. With avoir, it describes taking something down. Choosing the correct auxiliary is essential to convey the intended meaning clearly.
Why Does Descendre Agree Sometimes In The Past Tense?
Agreement happens only when descendre uses être. In that case, the past participle descendu agrees in gender and number with the subject. When avoir is used, agreement usually does not occur unless a direct object precedes the verb.
How Do You Translate Descendre In English?
Descendre can translate as “to go down,” “to come down,” “to get off,” or “to take down.” English uses different verbs depending on context, so understanding the situation is more important than memorizing one fixed translation.
What Is The Imperfect Tense Of Descendre Used For?
The imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. With descendre, it often translates as “was going down” or “used to go down” and is common when describing routines or background actions.
How Do You Conjugate Descendre In The Imperfect Tense?
In the imperfect tense, descendre becomes je descendais, tu descendais, il descendait, nous descendions, vous descendiez, ils descendaient. These forms describe repeated or continuous actions in the past.
How Do You Conjugate Descendre In The Future Tense?
In the future tense, descendre is conjugated as je descendrai, tu descendras, il descendra, and so on. This tense is used to talk about actions that will happen later, such as going down, getting off, or lowering something.
Can Descendre Mean To Get Off Public Transport?
Yes, descendre is commonly used to mean “to get off” buses, trains, or metros. For example, je suis descendu du bus means “I got off the bus,” which is a very common everyday usage.
Can Descendre Be Used To Talk About Prices Or Levels?
Yes, descendre is often used figuratively to describe prices, temperatures, or levels going down. For example, les prix descendent means “prices are going down,” which is very common in news and conversation.
When Do You Use The Subjunctive With Descendre?
The subjunctive is used after expressions of necessity, desire, doubt, or emotion. With descendre, it appears after phrases like il faut que, je veux que, or bien que, focusing on intention rather than fact.
How Do You Translate “Que Je Descende” In English?
“Que je descende” is best translated as “for me to go down” or “that I should go down.” English usually avoids a direct subjunctive and instead uses an infinitive or modal construction.
What Is The Past Subjunctive Of Descendre Used For?
The past subjunctive is used when the action of going down happened before the main verb. In English, it usually translates as “to have gone down” and appears after expressions of emotion or judgment.
Is The Passé Simple Of Descendre Still Used?
The passé simple still exists but is not used in spoken French. It appears mainly in novels, historical writing, and formal narratives. Learning it helps with reading comprehension rather than everyday conversation.
How Is Descendre Different From Monter?
Descendre means “to go down,” while monter means “to go up.” They are opposites and often follow similar grammar rules, including auxiliary switching. Learning them together helps reinforce movement vocabulary.
How Is Descendre Different From Baisser?
Descendre focuses on movement or position going downward, while baisser emphasizes intentionally lowering something. For example, descendre les escaliers differs from baisser le prix, which means lowering a price.
Can Descendre Be Used Without Mentioning A Place?
Yes, descendre can be used without mentioning a place when the context is clear. For example, je descends can simply mean “I’m coming down,” especially in spoken French.
Is Descendre Common In Everyday Spoken French?
Descendre is very common in everyday French. It is used for movement, transport, prices, levels, and instructions. Because of its frequency and flexibility, mastering descendre greatly improves fluency.
What Are Common Mistakes Learners Make With Descendre?
Common mistakes include using the wrong auxiliary, forgetting agreement with être, and translating descendre too literally. Understanding whether the verb expresses movement or an action on an object helps avoid these errors.
Does Descendre Change Meaning With A Direct Object?
Yes, when descendre takes a direct object, it changes meaning from movement to action. For example, descendre les cartons means “to take the boxes down,” which triggers avoir instead of être.
Can Descendre Be Used In Commands?
Yes, descendre is frequently used in the imperative to give instructions or orders. Forms like descends, descendons, and descendez are common in everyday speech.
How Do You Use Descendre In The Conditional Tense?
The conditional of descendre is used for hypothetical situations, polite suggestions, or imagined outcomes. It usually translates as “would go down” and is common in soft requests.
Is Descendre Used In Formal Writing?
Yes, descendre appears in formal writing, often figuratively to describe decline, reduction, or lowering levels. It is common in economic, analytical, and descriptive texts.
Are There Idiomatic Expressions With Descendre?
Yes, French has idiomatic expressions with descendre, such as descendre quelqu’un or descendre en flèche. These expressions often have figurative meanings and should be learned separately.
Can Descendre Be Used Figuratively?
Yes, descendre is often used figuratively to describe decline, criticism, or reduction. These uses are common in both spoken and written French.
What Does Descendre Quelqu’un Mean Informally?
In informal French, descendre quelqu’un can mean to strongly criticize someone or damage their reputation. This meaning is idiomatic and context-dependent.
Can Descendre Be Used With De?
Yes, descendre de is commonly used to indicate movement away from something, such as descendre du train. This structure is extremely common in transport-related situations.
How Does Descendre Work With Body Parts?
Descendre can be used with body parts, such as descendre les bras, meaning “to lower your arms.” In this case, it uses avoir because there is a direct object.
Is Descendre Used More With Être Or Avoir?
In everyday speech, descendre is often used with être because movement is common. However, both auxiliaries are essential, and learners must understand when to switch based on meaning.
How Can I Practice Descendre Effectively?
The best way to practice descendre is to use it in sentences that reflect both meanings: movement and action. Practicing with transport, objects, and abstract uses helps reinforce correct auxiliary choice.
Should Beginners Learn All Descendre Tenses At Once?
Beginners should start with the present tense, passé composé, future tense, and basic subjunctive usage. Literary tenses can be learned later. Focusing on real-life usage leads to faster progress.
Is Descendre Considered A Movement Verb?
Yes, descendre is considered a movement verb when it expresses physical motion, which is why it can use être. Understanding this classification helps learners master auxiliary selection.
Why Is Descendre Important To Learn Early?
Descendre appears frequently in daily conversation, travel situations, and descriptions of change. Learning it early gives learners confidence with movement verbs and prepares them for similar verbs like monter and sortir.
Final Takeaway
The Descendre Verb Conjugation becomes clear once you understand how meaning changes with auxiliary choice and context. Whether you are talking about movement, decrease, or removal, mastering descendre gives you a flexible, high-frequency verb you will use constantly in real French.
