Le Passé Simple in French Grammar
The passé simple, also known as the past historic, is a French past tense that is only used in written language.
A Literary Tense
It has the same meaning as the passé composé and is used to talk about a completed, one-time action in the past. Learn everything you need to know about the passé simple in French grammar with PrepMyFrench's quick and easy examples, then put your knowledge to the test in the free exercises below.
How to conjugate the passé simple
-ER Verbs
ai, as, a, âmes, âtes, èrent
-IR & -RE Verbs
is, is, it, îmes, îtes, irent
Irregular
us, us, ut, ûmes, ûtes, urent
The Irregular Masters
The Twins
Venir and Tenir follow the exact same irregular pattern.
Je vinsNous vînmesJe tinsNous tînmes
The Foundation
Avoir (to have)eus, eut, eurent
Être (to be)fus, fut, furent
Savoir (to know)sus, sut, surent
How to form the negative with the passé simple
ne + verb + pasPlace the negation around the verb.
Ils ne quittâmes pas.