Difficult conjugation: ressortir

Ressortir

On the face of it, the verb "ressortir" (to emerge) seems simple and means "to go out again". Except that it's not that simple because it's only one of the two meanings of this verb.

Because "ressortir" (to stand out) also means "to be within the purview of", to relate to or depend on. And in this case, it is a verb conjugated on the pattern of "finir" ending. The verb to emerge can therefore take two different meanings with two different conjugations.

When "ressortir" (to go out) comes from the verb to go out and means "to go out again", then it is a verb of the third group and is conjugated like the verb to "sortir": je ressors, tu ressors, il ressort...

But "ressortir (à)" is also an indirect transitive verb meaning "to be of the spring" or "to be of the domain of something (or someone)". In this case, "ressortir" is a verb of the second group: je ressortis, tu ressortis, il ressortit...

Example: cette décision ressortit au juge compétent en la matière.