être de retour

Understanding the French Phrase être de retour

The French phrase être de retour translates to “to be back” in English. It is used to indicate that someone or something has returned to a place or state. This expression is common in everyday conversation and can be applied in various contexts.

Meaning and Usage

Être de retour emphasizes the act of returning after an absence. It is often used in both formal and informal settings.

Examples in Sentences:

  1. Je suis de retour à Paris. – “I am back in Paris.”
  2. Elle sera de retour demain. – “She will be back tomorrow.”
  3. Ils étaient de retour après un long voyage. – “They were back after a long trip.”

Conjugation in Different Tenses

Here’s how être de retour is conjugated in a few key tenses:

TenseConjugationExample Sentence
PresentJe suis de retourJe suis de retour chez moi. (“I am back home.”)
Passé ComposéJ’ai été de retourJ’ai été de retour hier. (“I was back yesterday.”)
Futur SimpleJe serai de retourJe serai de retour bientôt. (“I will be back soon.”)
ImparfaitJ’étais de retourJ’étais de retour quand tu as appelé. (“I was back when you called.”)
ConditionnelJe serais de retourSi je pouvais, je serais de retour demain. (“If I could, I would be back tomorrow.”)

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