Verbe de perception – How to conjugate perception verbs in French

Key takeaways

• Verbes de perception describe what you see, hear, feel, or sense.
• Common verbs: voir (to see), entendre (to hear), sentir (to feel/smell), regarder (to watch), écouter (to listen).
• These verbs are often followed by an infinitive or participle.
• Conjugation can be irregular, especially for verbs like voir and sentir.
• Mastering them helps describe everyday experiences in detail.

What Are Verbs of Perception?

In French, verbs of perception (verbes de perception) express what the senses perceive: sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell.

Examples:

• Je vois un oiseau. → I see a bird.
• Nous entendons la musique. → We hear the music.
• Elle sent le parfum. → She smells the perfume.

List of Common French Perception Verbs

Sight

• voir – to see
• regarder – to look/watch
• apercevoir – to notice

Hearing

• entendre – to hear
• écouter – to listen

Smell

• sentir – to smell
• renifler – to sniff

Taste

• goûter – to taste

Touch / Feeling

• toucher – to touch
• ressentir – to feel

How to Conjugate Perception Verbs

Example: voir (to see) – irregular verb

Example: entendre (to hear) – regular -re verb

| je | entends | j’entendais | j’ai entendu | entendrai | 
| tu | entends | tu entendais | tu as entendu | entendras | 
| il/elle | entend | il entendait | il a entendu | entendra | 
| nous | entendons | nous entendions | nous avons entendu | entendrons | 
| vous | entendez | vous entendiez | vous avez entendu | entendrez | 
| ils/elles | entendent | ils entendaient | ils ont entendu | entendront |

Grammar: Infinitive or Present Participle?

Perception verbs are usually followed by either an infinitive or a present participle depending on the nuance:

• Verb + infinitive → entire action is perceived. 
  
  • J’ai vu Paul traverser la rue. → I saw Paul cross the street.
• Verb + present participle → ongoing action is perceived. 
  
  • J’ai vu Paul traversant la rue. → I saw Paul crossing the street.

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Examples of Perception Verbs in Sentences

• J’entends les enfants jouer dans le jardin. → I hear the children playing in the garden.
• Elle a vu son frère courir. → She saw her brother run.
• Nous sentons le vent souffler fort. → We feel the wind blowing hard.
• Tu regardes les oiseaux voler. → You watch the birds fly.

Common Mistakes

• Using a finite verb instead of infinitive/participle.
• Forgetting that irregular verbs (voir, apercevoir, sentir) change stems.
• Mixing up écouter (to listen intentionally) and entendre (to hear).

Exercises: Practice Perception Verbs

1. Conjugation

Conjugate sentir in the present tense.

2. Fill in the blanks

• Je ________ (voir) Marie entrer dans la salle.
• Nous ________ (entendre) le téléphone sonner.

3. Translate into French

• I smell the flowers.
• They heard him singing.
• She saw the dog running.

Answers

1. je sens, tu sens, il sent, nous sentons, vous sentez, ils sentent
2. vois | entendons
3. Je sens les fleurs | Ils l’ont entendu chanter | Elle a vu le chien courir

Tips for Mastering Verbs of Perception

• Practice with sensory descriptions in everyday life.
• Use flashcards to remember irregular forms.
• Compare infinitive vs present participle usage.
• Read short stories and underline perception verbs.

For more guidance, review French verb tenses. To build habits, explore learning French effectively. And to plan your progress, check how long it takes to learn French fluently.

Summary

French verbs of perception (verbes de perception) describe sensory experiences and are followed by infinitives or present participles. Common verbs include voir, entendre, sentir, écouter, goûter, toucher.

For deeper explanations, see Lawless French’s guide to verbs of perception and ThoughtCo’s overview of perception and sensation verbs. With practice, you’ll naturally say Je vois les enfants jouer or J’entends la musique venir as you learn French with Promova.