PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
Conjugation directory
Tomber is a common movement verb used to describe falling physically or metaphorically, such as falling in love or falling into a habit. It is essential for everyday conversations and storytelling in French.
Use tomber in the passé composé with être to describe a sudden event or change, like 'Je suis tombé malade' for TEF/TCF speaking tasks.
Il est tombé dans les escaliers hier.
He fell down the stairs yesterday.
Remember that tomber uses être as its auxiliary verb in compound tenses, not avoir. A common mistake is saying 'j'ai tombé' instead of 'je suis tombé'.
Use the table above and the related links below to pin the pattern down before you move on to other verbs.
Start with the present tense, then the passé composé. Those two forms carry most everyday conversation and make the rest of the table easier to recognise.
Tomber typically uses être in compound tenses. Check the table above and keep the past participle in view when you move into compound forms.
Use the related links below and then open the interactive conjugator to compare this verb with others you use often.