/ɛ̃.vɑ̃.te/
Translation
to invent, to make up
Word origin
From Latin inventus, the past participle of invenire ('to come upon, to find'), from in- ('upon') and venire ('to come'). English 'invent' and 'invention' share the root.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- invenire
- English cognates
- invent, invention, inventory
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | invente | inventais | inventai | inventerai | inventerais |
| tu | inventes | inventais | inventas | inventeras | inventerais |
| il/elle | invente | inventait | inventa | inventera | inventerait |
| nous | inventons | inventions | inventâmes | inventerons | inventerions |
| vous | inventez | inventiez | inventâtes | inventerez | inventeriez |
| ils/elles | inventent | inventaient | inventèrent | inventeront | inventeraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | invente | inventasse |
| tu | inventes | inventasses |
| il/elle | invente | inventât |
| nous | inventions | inventassions |
| vous | inventiez | inventassiez |
| ils/elles | inventent | inventassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | invente |
| nous | inventons |
| vous | inventez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- inventant
- Past participle
- inventé · inventée · inventés · inventées
Examples
?
Who invented the telephone?
' .
Stop making up excuses.
.
She makes up a different story every evening for her daughter.
procédé atelier Lyon.
This process was invented in a small workshop in Lyon.
' , .
I am not making anything up, it is all written in the report.
Where this fits
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inventer: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "inventer" (to invent, to make up): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 32.