Tendre Conjugation in French: Complete Tables, Rules & Practical Guide

Mastering the French verb tendre (meaning to stretch, to hold out, to offer, or to strain) is a milestone for intermediate French learners. Classified within the third conjugation group, tendre belongs to the predictable family of regular -dre verbs, sharing its conjugation blueprint with verbs like vendre (to sell), attendre (to wait), and entendre (to hear).

In this comprehensive grammar guide, you will find complete conjugation tables for every key tense, critical spelling rules, reflexive uses, and authentic idiomatic expressions.

Core Verb Facts

  • Infinitive: tendre
  • English equivalents: to stretch, to tighten, to hand/reach out, to tend toward
  • Auxiliary: avoir (active voice) / être (reflexive voice: se tendre)
  • Present Participle: tendant
  • Past Participle: tendu

    • Indicative Mood (L'indicatif)

The indicative mood covers factual statements in past, present, and future timeframes.

Present Tense (Présent)

Regular -dre verbs drop the -re and attach -s, -s, -, -ons, -ez, -ent. Notice that the 3rd person singular takes no additional letter beyond the stem's final d.

Passé Composé

Subject Pronoun French Form English Translation
Je tends I stretch / hold out
Tu tends You stretch (informal)
Il / Elle / On tend He / She / One stretches
Nous tendons We stretch
Vous tendez You stretch (formal/plural)
Ils / Elles tendent They stretch

Formed using the present tense of avoir combined with the invariable past participle tendu (unless a direct object precedes it).

  • J'ai tendu – I stretched / I held out
  • Tu as tendu – You stretched
  • Il / Elle a tendu – He / She stretched
  • Nous avons tendu – We stretched
  • Vous avez tendu – You stretched
  • Ils / Elles ont tendu – They stretched

    • Imperfect Tense (Imparfait)

Used for ongoing or habitual past actions. Take the stem of nous in the present (tend-) and add standard imperfect endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient).

  • Je tendais
  • Tu tendais
  • Il / Elle tendait
  • Nous tendions
  • Vous tendiez
  • Ils / Elles tendaient

    • Future Tense (Futur Simple)

Retain the base tendr- and append standard future terminations (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont).

  • Je tendrai
  • Tu tendras
  • Il / Elle tendra
  • Nous tendrons
  • Vous tendrez
  • Ils / Elles tendront

    • Pluperfect (Plus-que-parfait)

  • J'avais tendu
  • Tu avais tendu
  • Il / Elle avait tendu
  • Nous avions tendu
  • Vous aviez tendu
  • Ils / Elles avaient tendu

    • Subjunctive & Conditional Moods

    Present Subjunctive (Subjonctif Présent)

Used after expressions of necessity, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.

  • Que je tende
  • Que tu tendes
  • Qu'il / elle tende
  • Que nous tendions
  • Que vous tendiez
  • Qu'ils / elles tendent

Example: Il faut que tu me tendes ce document. (You must hand me this document.)

Present Conditional (Conditionnel Présent)

Used for polite requests, hypotheticals, or possibilities.

  • Je tendrais
  • Tu tendrais
  • Il / Elle tendrait
  • Nous tendrions
  • Vous tendriez
  • Ils / Elles tendraient

    • Imperative Mood (Impératif)

The imperative gives commands or offers strong recommendations. It drops subject pronouns entirely:

  • Tends ! – Reach out! / Stretch!
  • Tendons ! – Let's reach out!
  • Tendez ! – Reach out! (plural/formal)

    • Common Grammatical Nuances and Traps

1. The 3rd Person Singular Form: A frequent mistake among beginners is writing il tent. In regular -dre verbs, the base ends in d, so no -t ending is required: il tend, elle vend, il attend.

2. The Reflexive Form (Se tendre): When used reflexively, se tendre means to become tight/strained or to become tense (describing a climate, relationship, or muscles). Example: L'atmosphère s'est tendue pendant le débat. (The atmosphere became tense during the debate.)

3. Prepositional Uses:

  • Tendre à + infinitive: To aim to, to tend to (Cette politique tend à réduire le chômage.)
  • Tendre vers + noun: To lean toward, to incline toward (Ses recherches tendent vers une découverte majeure.)

    • Idiomatic French Expressions with « Tendre »

  • Tendre la main à quelqu'un : To extend a helping hand or offer reconciliation.
  • Tendre l'oreille : To listen intently / to strain one's ears.
  • Tendre un piège : To lay a trap or set an ambush.
  • Tendre le dos : To brace for punishment or criticism.
  • Tendre le bâton pour se faire battre : To give someone ammunition to criticize you.