contredire
The French verb “contredire” means “to contradict” or “to oppose”. Learn how it is conjugated in the present tense and the passé composé. Interestingly, the “vous” form in the present tense does not follow the example of the verb “dire.”
Conjugation in the Present Tense
“Contredire” is an irregular verb that follows the pattern of “dire” (to say/tell), but it has some differences, particularly in the conjugation of the “vous” form. Here’s how to conjugate “contredire” in the present tense:
| Pronoun | Contredire (Present Tense) |
|---|---|
| je | contredis |
| tu | contredis |
| il/elle/on | contredit |
| nous | contredisons |
| vous | contredisez |
| ils/elles | contredisent |
Note on the “Vous” Form:
In the present tense, “vous contredisez” differs from “vous dites” (the “vous” form of “dire”). While “dire” has “vous dites,” “contredire” follows the more regular pattern “vous contredisez”. There is no such thing as “vous contredites”!
Conjugation in the Passé Composé
The passé composé of “contredire” uses the auxiliary verb “avoir” followed by the past participle “contredit”.
| Pronoun | Contredire (Passé Composé) |
|---|---|
| j’ | ai contredit |
| tu | as contredit |
| il/elle/on | a contredit |
| nous | avons contredit |
| vous | avez contredit |
| ils/elles | ont contredit |
Examples of Usage
- Elle me contredit sans arrêt.
- She contradicts me constantly.
- Nous avons contredit les conclusions du rapport.
- We contradicted the report’s conclusions.
- Pourquoi me contredis-tu tout le temps ?
- Why do you contradict me all the time?
- Ils ont contredit la décision du chef.
- They opposed the boss’s decision.
