Join Discordarrive
arrives; is arriving; comes
happens
occurs
Ça arrive tout le temps.
That happens all the time.
manages to; succeeds in (when followed by 'à' + infinitive)
J'arrive à finir le travail ce soir.
I manage to finish the work tonight.
Notes
GENERAL INFO
Arriver is a verb with multiple meanings: "to arrive," "to happen," or "to succeed/manage to do something."
USAGE
It's commonly used for physical arrival: "Je suis arrivé à la gare." (I arrived at the station.)
It can also mean "to happen": "Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé ?" (What happened?).
With "à" + infinitive, it means "to manage/succeed": "J'arrive à comprendre." (I manage to understand.)
TRAPS
When meaning "to arrive" or "to happen," arriver always uses *être* as its auxiliary verb in compound tenses (e.g., *Je suis arrivé*, *C'est arrivé*). Do not use *avoir*.
CONJUGATION - 1st Group
J'arrive
Tu arrives
Il/elle/on arrive
Nous arrivons
Vous arrivez
Ils/elles arrivent