Partir Verb Conjugation Tables With Translations & Real Life Examples
Does Partir Verb Conjugation feel inconsistent across tenses, despite the verb’s frequent use in daily French? Used for leaving, departing, and moving on, partir is unpacked here with clear tense explanations, natural translations, and practical examples that reflect real conversations and everyday usage accurately.
Let’s start with what makes partir special.
What You Need To Know Before Conjugating Partir
Partir means to leave, to depart, or to go away. It is an irregular verb whose stem changes in several tenses. Partir always uses être in compound tenses, and its past participle parti must agree in gender and number with the subject. This rule never changes.
Indicative Mood
The indicative mood expresses facts, habits, movement, and real situations.
Present Tense (Présent)
The present tense describes actions happening now, planned departures, or general habits. In English, partir often translates as “leave,” “am/is/are leaving,” or “go.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | pars | I leave / I am leaving |
| Tu | pars | you leave |
| Il / Elle / On | part | he / she leaves |
| Nous | partons | we leave |
| Vous | partez | you leave |
| Ils / Elles | partent | they leave |
Examples:
- Je pars maintenant. → I’m leaving now.
- Elle part tôt. → She leaves early.
- Ils partent ensemble. → They are leaving together.
To describe repeated or ongoing departures in the past, French uses the imperfect.
Imperfect Tense (Imparfait)
The imperfect tense is used for habitual actions, ongoing movement, or background situations in the past. In English, it usually translates as “was leaving” or “used to leave.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | partais | I was leaving / I used to leave |
| Tu | partais | you were leaving |
| Il / Elle / On | partait | he / she was leaving |
| Nous | partions | we were leaving |
| Vous | partiez | you were leaving |
| Ils / Elles | partaient | they were leaving |
Examples:
- Je partais toujours tôt. → I used to leave early.
- Elle partait en silence. → She was leaving quietly.
- Nous partions ensemble. → We were leaving together.
To express a completed departure, French uses the passé composé.
Passé Composé (Always Être)
The passé composé expresses completed actions. Partir always uses être, and the past participle agrees with the subject. In English, it usually becomes “left” or “has left.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | suis parti(e) | I left / I have left |
| Tu | es parti(e) | you left |
| Il / Elle / On | est parti(e) | he / she left |
| Nous | sommes parti(e)s | we left |
| Vous | êtes parti(e)(s) | you left |
| Ils / Elles | sont parti(e)s | they left |
Examples:
- Je suis parti hier. → I left yesterday.
- Elle est partie tôt. → She left early.
- Ils sont partis ensemble. → They left together.
To show that someone had already left 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 left.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | étais parti(e) | I had left |
| Tu | étais parti(e) | you had left |
| Il / Elle / On | était parti(e) | he / she had left |
| Nous | étions parti(e)s | we had left |
| Vous | étiez parti(e)(s) | you had left |
| Ils / Elles | étaient parti(e)s | they had left |
Examples:
- J’étais parti avant lui. → I had left before him.
- Elle était déjà partie. → She had already left.
- Nous étions partis tôt. → We had left early.
Some tenses are mainly used in written French.
Passé Simple (Rare – Literary)
The passé simple of partir appears mainly in novels and historical writing.
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | partis | I left |
| Tu | partis | you left |
| Il / Elle / On | partit | he / she left |
| Nous | partîmes | we left |
| Vous | partîtes | you left |
| Ils / Elles | partirent | they left |
Examples:
- Il partit sans un mot. → He left without a word.
- Elle partit soudainement. → She left suddenly.
- Ils partirent ensemble. → They left together.
French also uses the future tense to talk about upcoming departures.
Simple Future (Futur Simple)
The future tense describes actions that will happen later, including planned departures.
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | partirai | I will leave |
| Tu | partiras | you will leave |
| Il / Elle / On | partira | he / she will leave |
| Nous | partirons | we will leave |
| Vous | partirez | you will leave |
| Ils / Elles | partiront | they will leave |
Examples:
- Je partirai demain. → I will leave tomorrow.
- Elle partira tôt. → She will leave early.
- Nous partirons ensemble. → We will leave together.
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive expresses necessity, emotion, doubt, or judgment related to leaving.
Present Subjunctive
In English, this often translates as “for someone to leave” or “that someone should leave.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Que je | parte | for me to leave / that I should leave |
| Que tu | partes | for you to leave |
| Qu’il / elle / on | parte | for him/her to leave |
| Que nous | partions | for us to leave |
| Que vous | partiez | for you to leave |
| Qu’ils / elles | partent | for them to leave |
Examples:
- Il faut que je parte. → I need to leave.
- Je veux qu’elle parte tôt. → I want her to leave early.
- Bien qu’ils partent tard… → Although they leave late…
Past Subjunctive
Used when the departure happened before the main verb. In English, it often becomes “to have left.”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Que je | sois parti(e) | for me to have left |
| Que tu | sois parti(e) | for you to have left |
| Qu’il / elle / on | soit parti(e) | for him/her to have left |
| Que nous | soyons parti(e)s | for us to have left |
| Que vous | soyez parti(e)(s) | for you to have left |
| Qu’ils / elles | soient parti(e)s | for them to have left |
Examples:
- Je regrette qu’il soit parti. → I regret that he left.
- Bien qu’elle soit partie… → Although she left…
- Je suis content qu’ils soient partis. → I’m glad they left.
Conditional Mood
The conditional expresses hypothetical situations, polite suggestions, or imagined outcomes.
Present Conditional
| Subject | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Je | partirais | I would leave |
| Tu | partirais | you would leave |
| Il / Elle / On | partirait | he / she would leave |
| Nous | partirions | we would leave |
| Vous | partiriez | you would leave |
| Ils / Elles | partiraient | they would leave |
Examples:
- Je partirais plus tôt. → I would leave earlier.
- Elle partirait demain. → She would leave tomorrow.
- Nous partirions ensemble. → We would leave together.
Imperative Mood
The imperative is used to give instructions, advice, or urgency.
Present Imperative
| Form | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| (Tu) | pars | leave |
| (Nous) | partons | let’s leave |
| (Vous) | partez | leave (formal/plural) |
Examples:
- Pars maintenant. → Leave now.
- Partons ensemble. → Let’s leave together.
- Partez tôt. → Leave early.
FAQs
What Does The Verb Partir Mean In French?
The French verb partir means “to leave,” “to depart,” or “to go away.” It is commonly used to talk about leaving a place, starting a journey, or moving on from a situation. Context determines whether the meaning is physical, planned, or figurative.
Is Partir A Regular Or Irregular Verb?
Partir is an irregular verb. Its stem changes in several tenses, especially in the present tense, which is why learners must memorize its forms rather than rely on standard -ir verb patterns.
Does Partir Always Use Être?
Yes, partir always uses être in compound tenses. This is because it expresses movement away from a place. As a result, the past participle parti must agree in gender and number with the subject.
How Do You Conjugate Partir In The Present Tense?
In the present tense, partir is conjugated as je pars, tu pars, il part, nous partons, vous partez, ils partent. This tense is used for actions happening now, near-future plans, or habitual departures.
What Is The Difference Between Je Pars And Je Suis Parti?
Je pars describes an action happening now or about to happen, such as “I’m leaving.” Je suis parti refers to a completed past action and means “I left” or “I have left.”
How Do You Use Partir In The Past Tense?
Partir is commonly used in the passé composé to describe a completed departure. It always uses être, and the past participle parti agrees with the subject in gender and number.
Why Does Partir Agree In The Past Tense?
Agreement occurs because partir uses être. The past participle parti changes form based on whether the subject is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural. This rule applies in all compound tenses.
What Is The Imperfect Tense Of Partir Used For?
The imperfect tense is used to describe repeated or ongoing departures in the past. It often translates as “was leaving” or “used to leave,” especially in storytelling or background descriptions.
How Do You Conjugate Partir In The Imperfect Tense?
In the imperfect tense, partir becomes je partais, tu partais, il partait, nous partions, vous partiez, ils partaient. These forms express habitual or continuous actions in the past.
How Do You Conjugate Partir In The Future Tense?
In the future tense, partir is conjugated as je partirai, tu partiras, il partira, and so on. This tense is used to describe planned or expected departures.
Can Partir Mean To Go Away Permanently?
Yes, depending on context, partir can imply leaving for a long time or permanently. For example, il est parti pour toujours suggests a permanent departure.
Can Partir Be Used Figuratively?
Yes, partir is often used figuratively to describe endings, changes, or emotional departures, such as leaving a phase of life or moving on from a situation.
How Is Partir Different From Quitter?
Partir focuses on leaving or going away, while quitter emphasizes abandoning or leaving someone or something behind. Quitter usually requires a direct object.
How Is Partir Different From Sortir?
Partir means leaving entirely, while sortir means going out temporarily. Partir often implies a longer or more definitive departure.
How Is Partir Different From Aller?
Aller focuses on movement toward a destination, while partir emphasizes leaving a starting point. The perspective changes which verb is used.
Can Partir Be Used With A Destination?
Yes, partir is often used with a destination introduced by pour. For example, partir pour Paris means “to leave for Paris.”
Can Partir Be Used Without Mentioning A Destination?
Yes, partir can be used without specifying a destination when the context is clear. For example, je pars maintenant simply means “I’m leaving now.”
When Do You Use The Subjunctive With Partir?
The subjunctive is used with partir after expressions of necessity, emotion, doubt, or judgment, such as il faut que or je veux que.
How Do You Translate “Que Je Parte” In English?
“Que je parte” is usually translated as “for me to leave” or “that I should leave.” English often restructures the sentence instead of using a direct subjunctive.
What Is The Past Subjunctive Of Partir Used For?
The past subjunctive is used when the departure happened before the main verb. In English, it usually becomes “to have left.”
Is The Passé Simple Of Partir Still Used?
The passé simple of partir still exists but is mainly used in novels and historical writing. It is not used in spoken French.
Can Partir Be Used In Commands?
Yes, partir is frequently used in the imperative to give instructions or urgency, such as pars maintenant or partons ensemble.
How Do You Use Partir In The Conditional Tense?
The conditional of partir is used for hypothetical situations, polite suggestions, or imagined outcomes. It usually translates as “would leave.”
Can Partir Be Used With Time Expressions?
Yes, partir is often used with time expressions like tôt, tard, demain, or maintenant to specify when the departure occurs.
Is Partir Common In Everyday Spoken French?
Partir is extremely common in everyday French. It is used for travel, daily routines, plans, and transitions, making it essential for fluency.
What Are Common Mistakes Learners Make With Partir?
Common mistakes include forgetting agreement in compound tenses, confusing partir with sortir or quitter, and mistranslating figurative uses.
Can Partir Be Used For Objects?
No, partir is generally not used with direct objects. When leaving something behind, French usually uses quitter instead.
Does Partir Change Meaning In Different Tenses?
The core meaning remains the same, but different tenses change timing, certainty, or intention. Understanding tense choice improves accuracy.
Is Partir Used In Formal Writing?
Yes, partir is used in both spoken and written French, including formal contexts, though usage may be more structured in writing.
Are There Idiomatic Expressions With Partir?
Yes, expressions like partir à l’aventure or partir en vrille are common and extend the meaning beyond simple departure.
Can Partir Be Used With Prepositions Other Than Pour?
Yes, partir can be used with prepositions like de or sans, depending on context. Prepositions clarify origin, purpose, or condition.
How Can I Practice Partir Effectively?
Practice partir by creating sentences about daily routines, travel plans, and hypothetical situations. Mixing tenses helps reinforce correct usage.
Should Beginners Learn All Partir Tenses At Once?
Beginners should start with the present tense, passé composé, future tense, and basic subjunctive forms. Other tenses can be added gradually.
Why Is Partir Important To Learn Early?
Partir is essential because it appears constantly in conversation and writing. Learning it early allows learners to express plans, movement, and transitions naturally.
Does Partir Appear In Set Expressions?
Yes, partir appears in many fixed expressions that describe emotional reactions, changes, or sudden actions, making it important beyond basic meaning.
Can Partir Be Used Negatively?
Yes, partir can be used in negative constructions to express refusal or delay, such as ne pas partir tout de suite.
How Does Partir Improve Fluency?
Mastering partir allows learners to express departure, intention, and change clearly. Its frequent use makes it a key building block for natural French.
Final Takeaway
The Partir Verb Conjugation is essential because partir is used constantly in everyday French to express leaving, plans, decisions, and endings. Once you understand its irregular forms and its constant use of être, it becomes one of the most natural verbs to use confidently.
