conjugueur

A conjugueur is a person or tool that provides the conjugated forms of verbs. In grammar and language learning, a conjugueur lists the full inflection of a verb across tenses and moods, persons and numbers, and, where applicable, voices.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the French verb conjuguer, with the agentive suffix -eur. It is used to describe both human practitioners, such as grammarians and teachers, and mechanical or digital resources that generate verb forms. While the concept is universal in languages with rich verb systems, a French conjugueur typically covers major tenses such as present, imperfect, past tenses, future, conditional, and subjunctive, including both simple and compound forms.

Human versus machine: A conjugueur can be a human who analyzes or teaches verb forms, or an automated system—a dictionary, database, website, or mobile app—that generates conjugation tables and related information. Many resources allow users to search by infinitive or by conjugated form to retrieve full paradigms and, in some cases, example sentences or pronunciation guides.

Usage and limitations: Conjugueurs are practical aids for learners, writers, and translators to verify verb forms and ensure subject–verb agreement. Limitations include regional or historical variations, irregular or obsolete forms, and the possibility of errors in informal or nonstandard usage. For scholarly work, it remains advisable to cross-check with authoritative grammar references.

See also: Conjugation, French verb, Verb inflection, Language-learning tools.