Verb

essayer

to try / to try on

Auxiliary: avoir

'essayer' is a first-group -ayer verb: y may change to i before a silent e (j'essaie, futur j'essaierai) or stay as y (j'essaye) — both are accepted; the 'i' forms shown here are the more common. It is usually followed by 'de + infinitive'.

J'essaie de parler français tous les jours.

I try to speak French every day.

Indicatif

Présent

Present

je essaie

I try

J'essaie une nouvelle recette ce soir.

I'm trying a new recipe tonight.

tu essaies

you try

Tu essaies cette veste avant de l'acheter ?

Are you trying on this jacket before buying it?

il/elle/on essaie

he/she/one tries

Elle essaie de comprendre le problème.

She tries to understand the problem.

nous essayons

we try

Nous essayons de finir avant la nuit.

We try to finish before nightfall.

vous essayez

you (plural) try

Vous essayez souvent de nouveaux restaurants.

You often try new restaurants.

ils/elles essaient

they try

Les élèves essaient de résoudre l'exercice.

The pupils try to solve the exercise.

Imparfait

Imperfect

je essayais

I used to try

J'essayais de me lever tôt chaque matin.

I used to try to get up early every morning.

tu essayais

you used to try

Tu essayais toujours de nous aider.

You always used to try to help us.

il/elle/on essayait

he/she/one used to try

Il essayait de réparer la vieille horloge.

He was trying to repair the old clock.

nous essayions

we used to try

Nous essayions de nouvelles idées chaque semaine.

We used to try new ideas every week.

vous essayiez

you (plural) used to try

Vous essayiez de garder le sourire.

You used to try to keep smiling.

ils/elles essayaient

they used to try

Ils essayaient de traverser la rivière à la nage.

They were trying to swim across the river.

Passé composé

Present Perfect

je ai essayé

I have tried

J'ai essayé de t'appeler plusieurs fois.

I tried to call you several times.

tu as essayé

you have tried

Tu as essayé le nouveau plat du chef ?

Have you tried the chef's new dish?

il/elle/on a essayé

he/she/one has tried

Elle a essayé trois robes avant de choisir.

She tried on three dresses before choosing.

nous avons essayé

we have tried

Nous avons essayé de tout expliquer calmement.

We tried to explain everything calmly.

vous avez essayé

you (plural) have tried

Vous avez essayé de réserver en ligne ?

Did you try to book online?

ils/elles ont essayé

they have tried

Ils ont essayé un nouveau logiciel.

They tried a new piece of software.

Plus-que-parfait

Past Perfect

je avais essayé

I had tried

J'avais essayé cette méthode sans succès.

I had tried this method without success.

tu avais essayé

you had tried

Tu avais essayé de la prévenir à temps.

You had tried to warn her in time.

il/elle/on avait essayé

he/she/one had tried

Il avait essayé plusieurs clés avant la bonne.

He had tried several keys before the right one.

nous avions essayé

we had tried

Nous avions essayé de réserver, mais c'était complet.

We had tried to book, but it was full.

vous aviez essayé

you (plural) had tried

Vous aviez essayé cette approche l'an dernier.

You had tried this approach last year.

ils/elles avaient essayé

they had tried

Ils avaient essayé de fuir avant l'orage.

They had tried to flee before the storm.

Futur simple

Future

je essaierai

I will try

Demain, j'essaierai de me coucher plus tôt.

Tomorrow I will try to go to bed earlier.

tu essaieras

you will try

Tu essaieras ce dessert, il est délicieux.

You'll try this dessert, it's delicious.

il/elle/on essaiera

he/she/one will try

Elle essaiera de venir à la fête.

She will try to come to the party.

nous essaierons

we will try

Nous essaierons une autre route la prochaine fois.

We will try another route next time.

vous essaierez

you (plural) will try

Vous essaierez le vélo électrique demain.

You will try the electric bike tomorrow.

ils/elles essaieront

they will try

Ils essaieront de battre le record.

They will try to beat the record.

Conditionnel

Conditionnel présent

Conditional

je essaierais

I would try

J'essaierais bien, mais je n'ai pas le temps.

I would try, but I don't have the time.

tu essaierais

you would try

Tu essaierais ce sport si on t'invitait ?

Would you try this sport if you were invited?

il/elle/on essaierait

he/she/one would try

Elle essaierait volontiers, mais elle a peur.

She would gladly try, but she is afraid.

nous essaierions

we would try

Nous essaierions une autre solution ensemble.

We would try another solution together.

vous essaieriez

you (plural) would try

Vous essaieriez de nouveau si on vous aidait ?

Would you try again if we helped you?

ils/elles essaieraient

they would try

Ils essaieraient une méthode plus douce.

They would try a gentler method.

Subjonctif

Subjonctif présent

Present Subjunctive

je essaie

(that) I try

Il faut que j'essaie au moins une fois.

I have to try at least once.

tu essaies

(that) you try

Je veux que tu essaies de rester calme.

I want you to try to stay calm.

il/elle/on essaie

(that) he/she/one try

Il vaut mieux qu'elle essaie elle-même.

It is better that she try it herself.

nous essayions

(that) we try

Il faut que nous essayions une autre approche.

We need to try another approach.

vous essayiez

(that) you (plural) try

Je préfère que vous essayiez avant de juger.

I prefer that you try before judging.

ils/elles essaient

(that) they try

J'aimerais qu'ils essaient de comprendre.

I'd like them to try to understand.

Impératif

Imperative

tu essaie

try!

Essaie encore, tu vas y arriver !

Try again, you'll get there!

nous essayons

let's try!

Essayons de trouver une solution ensemble.

Let's try to find a solution together.

vous essayez

try! (plural)

Essayez ce fromage, il est excellent.

Try this cheese, it's excellent.