Irregular verbs break the usual patterns learners expect, so they must be learned through practice and exposure. This guide covers key irregular verbs that appear frequently in everyday French.
ir / ser (to go / to be)
hacer (to do, to make)
tener (to have)
Signal Words
Summary
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs break the usual patterns learners expect, so they must be learned through practice and exposure. This guide covers key irregular verbs that appear frequently in everyday French.
être (to be)
The verb être is fundamental and appears in many expressions and compound tenses, so learners should memorize its forms carefully.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| je suis | I am | |
| tu es | you are | |
| il/elle/on est | he/she/one is | |
| nous sommes | we are | |
| vous êtes | you (pl.) are | |
| ils/elles sont | they are |
I am happy today.
avoir (to have)
The verb avoir is essential for possession, expressions, and forming compound tenses, making it a top priority for learners to know.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| j'ai | I have | |
| tu as | you have | |
| il/elle/on a | he/she/one has | |
| nous avons | we have | |
| vous avez | you (pl.) have | |
| ils/elles ont | they have |
faire (to do, to make)
The verb faire appears in many idiomatic expressions and is used for activities and weather, so learners should practice its forms.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| je fais | I do / I make | |
| tu fais | you do / you make | |
| il/elle/on fait | he/she/one does / makes | |
| nous faisons | we do / we make | |
| vous faites | you (pl.) do / make | |
| ils/elles font | they do / they make |
aller (to go)
The verb aller is frequently used for movement and for the near future tense, so knowing its forms helps learners plan and describe actions.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| je vais | I go / I am going | |
| tu vas | you go / you are going | |
| il/elle/on va | he/she/one goes / is going | |
| nous allons | we go / we are going | |
| vous allez | you (pl.) go / are going | |
| ils/elles vont | they go / they are going |
signal words
Signal words guide learners on when to use different tenses, so paying attention to these cues helps learners choose the right form in context.
summary
Irregular verbs are frequent and shape how learners express time, action, and nuance; focusing on high-utility verbs like être, avoir, faire, and aller gives learners a strong foundation.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025