There are three main groups of regular verbs in French: -er, -ir, and -re.
French verbs are sorted into three main groups based on their infinitive endings: -er, -ir, and -re. Each group follows a systematic pattern for conjugation, allowing you to predict verb forms once you know the rules.
- Three main groups: -er, -ir, -re
- Infinitive endings determine conjugation patterns
- Learning one regular verb per group unlocks many others
-er verbs are by far the most common and largest group of regular verbs.
For -er verbs, the stem is the infinitive minus -er.
-er Verbs (Aimer - to love)
For -er verbs, drop the -er to find the stem, then add the endings:
| Subject | Ending | Example: aimer (to love) |
|---|---|---|
| Je | -e | J’aime |
| Tu | -es | Tu aimes |
| Il/Elle/On | -e | Il aime |
| Nous | -ons | Nous aimons |
| Vous | -ez | Vous aimez |
| Ils/Elles | -ent | Ils aiment |
- Most common regular verb group (-er)
- Remove -er for stem; add endings (-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent)
-ir verbs use the stem formed by removing -ir from the infinitive.
Regular -ir verbs use -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent for present tense.
-ir Verbs (Finir - to finish)
For -ir verbs, drop -ir for the stem. Use these endings:
| Subject | Ending | Example: finir (to finish) |
|---|---|---|
| Je | -is | Je finis |
| Tu | -is | Tu finis |
| Il/Elle/On | -it | Il finit |
| Nous | -issons | Nous finissons |
| Vous | -issez | Vous finissez |
| Ils/Elles | -issent | Ils finissent |
- Stem = infinitive minus -ir
- Endings are: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
Regular -re verbs use endings -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent for present tense.
For -re verbs, remove -re to get the stem.
-re Verbs (Vendre - to sell)
For -re verbs, drop -re for the stem. Use these endings:
| Subject | Ending | Example: vendre (to sell) |
|---|---|---|
| Je | -s | Je vends |
| Tu | -s | Tu vends |
| Il/Elle/On | -t | Il vend |
| Nous | -ons | Nous vendons |
| Vous | -ez | Vous vendez |
| Ils/Elles | -ent | Ils vendent |
- Stem = infinitive minus -re
- Endings: -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent
The three main verb group endings are -er, -ir, -re.
Conclusion
French regular verbs fall into three neat families—er, ir, and re—each with its own set of endings. Mastering these patterns gives you the power to conjugate hundreds of verbs correctly and confidently.
- Three main groups: -er, -ir, -re
- Each group uses a distinct set of endings for each tense
- Learning one prototype verb per group unlocks many others