servir means to serve and covers roles like serving food, helping, or even a thing "serving" a purpose.
- Infinitive: servir
- Meaning: to serve (food, drinks, people), to be useful, to work/function
- Verb type: Regular -ir verb, but with a stem change (serv- → sers-, sert-, servent-) in the present
*to serve*
Present: servir (to serve)
Usage: Present active service, help, or when something works/is used.
Key: sers, sers, sert, servons, servez, servent
| Subject | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | Je sers | I serve |
| Tu | Tu sers | You serve (informal) |
| Il/Elle | Il/Elle sert | He/She serves |
| Nous | Nous servons | We serve |
| Vous | Vous servez | You serve (formal/pl.) |
| Ils/Elles | Ils servent | They serve |
Example:
- French: Le serveur sert les boissons.
- English: The waiter serves the drinks.
serv-
'servir' means 'to serve' and can also mean 'to be useful'
Past Participle: servi
Used with: avoir
Meaning: served
Example:
- French: Ils ont servi le dîner.
- English: They served dinner.
servi
Future: servir
Stem: servir- (no change!)
Endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
| Subject | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | Je servirai | I will serve |
| Tu | Tu serviras | You will serve |
| Il/Elle | Il/Elle servira | He/She will serve |
| Nous | Nous servirons | We will serve |
| Vous | Vous servirez | You will serve |
| Ils/Elles | Ils serviront | They will serve |
Example:
- French: Elle servira le dessert.
- English: She will serve the dessert.
The future stem is 'servir-'
Conditional: servir
Stem: servir-
Endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
| Subject | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | Je servirais | I would serve |
| Tu | Tu servirais | You would serve |
| Il/Elle | Il/Elle servirait | He/She would serve |
| Nous | Nous servirions | We would serve |
| Vous | Vous serviriez | You would serve |
| Ils/Elles | Ils serviraient | They would serve |
Example:
- French: Nous servirions volontiers.
- English: We would gladly serve.
servir-
Subjunctive: servir
Usage: Emotion, doubt, necessity, desire about service
Stem: sers- (ils/elles form without -ent: servent → serv-)
| Subject | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Que je | Que je serve | That I serve |
| Que tu | Que tu serves | That you serve |
| Qu'il/elle | Qu'il serve | That he/she serves |
| Que nous | Que nous servions | That we serve |
| Que vous | Que vous serviez | That you serve |
| Qu'ils/elles | Qu'ils servent | That they serve |
Example:
- French: Il faut que je serve le repas.
- English: I must serve the meal. (expresses necessity)
The subjunctive stem is 'serv-'
Popular Expressions with servir
- Servir à — to be used for / to serve for
(Cette clé sert à ouvrir la porte. / This key is used to open the door.)
- Se servir de — to use (something)
(Je me sers de cet ordinateur tous les jours. / I use this computer every day.)
- Servir quelqu’un — to serve someone (e.g., in a restaurant)
- Servir le repas — to serve the meal
- Servir de modèle/exemple — to serve as a model/example
Conclusion
servir is versatile, covering serving, utility, and use, adapting its form for different moods and times.
- Meanings: to serve, to be useful, to work (function)
- Key Forms: Present stem changes, regular past participle servi, future/conditional stem servir-
- Useful Expressions: servir à, se servir de
'servir' means 'to serve' and can also mean 'to be useful'
servir is used for delivering service or help, or for something that functions/is useful. It's not used for 'to eat' or transactions like buying/selling.
servi
Infinitive is 'servir'; stems include 'serv-' for present and subjunctive, 'servir-' for future/conditional.
'servir' is mostly regular but has a stem change in the present.