French verb conjugation is a key part of mastering the language. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, while irregular verbs have unique forms. Understanding these differences is crucial for speaking and writing French correctly.
In the present tense, verbs are conjugated based on their ending (-er, -ir, -re) and the subject pronoun. Regular verbs follow set rules, but irregular verbs require memorization. This foundation is essential for building French language skills.
Conjugating regular verbs
-er verbs
- Regular -er verbs are conjugated by removing the -er ending and adding the appropriate endings: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
- Example: parler (to speak) → je parle, tu parles, il/elle/on parle, nous parlons, vous parlez, ils/elles parlent
- The verb stem remains unchanged when conjugating regular -er verbs in the present tense
- The nous and vous forms of -er verbs have the same endings (-ons and -ez) as -re verbs
-ir verbs
- Regular -ir verbs are conjugated by removing the -ir ending and adding the appropriate endings: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
- Example: finir (to finish) → je finis, tu finis, il/elle/on finit, nous finissons, vous finissez, ils/elles finissent
- The verb stem remains unchanged when conjugating regular -ir verbs in the present tense
- The nous and vous forms of -ir verbs have unique endings (-issons and -issez) compared to -er and -re verbs
-re verbs
- Regular -re verbs are conjugated by removing the -re ending and adding the appropriate endings: -s, -s, -, -ons, -ez, -ent
- Example: vendre (to sell) → je vends, tu vends, il/elle/on vend, nous vendons, vous vendez, ils/elles vendent
- The verb stem remains unchanged when conjugating regular -re verbs in the present tense
- The nous and vous forms of -re verbs have the same endings (-ons and -ez) as -er verbs
Conjugating irregular verbs
Common irregular verbs
- Common irregular verbs include être (to be), avoir (to have), aller (to go), faire (to do/make), and savoir (to know)
- These verbs are frequently used in French and have unique conjugation patterns that must be memorized
- Example: être → je suis, tu es, il/elle/on est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont
- Example: avoir → j'ai, tu as, il/elle/on a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont
Conjugation patterns
- Irregular verbs do not follow the standard conjugation patterns of regular verbs and often have unique stem changes or endings for each subject pronoun
- Some irregular verbs, such as aller and faire, have completely unique conjugations that do not resemble the patterns of any regular verb group
- Example: aller → je vais, tu vas, il/elle/on va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont
- Example: faire → je fais, tu fais, il/elle/on fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font
- Other irregular verbs, like prendre (to take) and venir (to come), have a mix of regular and irregular forms, with some subject pronouns following the regular pattern and others having unique endings or stem changes
Verb endings for subjects
Subject pronouns
- The subject pronouns in French are: je (I), tu (you, singular informal), il/elle/on (he/she/one), nous (we), vous (you, plural or formal), ils/elles (they)
- Each subject pronoun requires a specific verb ending when conjugating verbs in the present tense
- Example: je parle, tu parles, il/elle/on parle, nous parlons, vous parlez, ils/elles parlent
Verb endings
- The je form typically ends in -e or -s, depending on the verb group and irregularity
- The tu form usually ends in -es or -s, with some exceptions for irregular verbs
- The il/elle/on form often ends in -e or -t, but can have unique endings for irregular verbs
- The nous form consistently ends in -ons across all verb groups, with few exceptions
- The vous form consistently ends in -ez across all verb groups, with few exceptions
- The ils/elles form usually ends in -ent, but can have unique endings for irregular verbs
Regular vs irregular conjugation
Identifying regular verbs
- Regular verbs follow a consistent pattern when conjugated, with the same stem and predictable endings for each subject pronoun within their respective verb group (-er, -ir, or -re)
- Recognizing the infinitive form of a verb (ending in -er, -ir, or -re) can help determine if it is likely to be regular, but there are exceptions within each group that must be memorized
- Example: parler, finir, and vendre are regular verbs in the -er, -ir, and -re groups, respectively
Identifying irregular verbs
- Irregular verbs do not adhere to the standard conjugation patterns and may have stem changes, unique endings, or a combination of both when conjugated in the present tense
- Some of the most common verbs in French, such as être, avoir, aller, faire, and savoir, are irregular and have unique conjugation patterns
- Example: être, avoir, aller, faire, and savoir are all irregular verbs with unique conjugations that must be memorized
- Other irregular verbs, like prendre and venir, have a mix of regular and irregular forms, with some subject pronouns following the regular pattern and others having unique endings or stem changes