Regular Verbs
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns in their endings, so learning one group helps you conjugate many verbs. This section covers the normal endings for each group with clear examples.
-er Verbs
-er verbs are the most common type of French verb, and they follow a straightforward pattern in the present tense. To conjugate, remove -er from the infinitive to get the stem, then add the endings for each person.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ✍️ J’écris une carte pour ma grand-mère. | I am writing a card for my grandmother. |
| ☕ Tu prépares du café pour les invités. | You are making coffee for the guests. |
| 🧺 Il range les coussins sur le canapé. | He tidies the cushions on the sofa. |
| 🥖 Nous promenons le chien après le marché. | We walk the dog after the market. |
| 🎶 Vous écoutez de la musique en cuisinant. | You (pl.) listen to music while cooking. |
| 🔆 Elles décorent la terrasse pour la fête. | They (f.) decorate the terrace for the party. |
Key Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Bonjour ! | Hello! / Good morning! |
| 📝 Je voudrais commander. | I would like to order. |
| 🍽️ C’est prêt ! | It’s ready! |
| 🧍 Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît. | A table for two, please. |
| 💬 Le menu, s’il vous plaît. | The menu, please. |
| 🙏 Merci beaucoup. | Thank you very much. |
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-ir Verbs
-ir verbs form a second group with consistent endings, though some high-frequency verbs slightly differ. The standard pattern applies to verbs like finir, where you remove -ir and add the typical present tense endings.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🍊 Je choisis des oranges au marché. | I choose oranges at the market. |
| 🧼 Tu remplis un seau d’eau. | You fill a bucket of water. |
| 🔪 Elle grandit en coupant les herbes. | She grows by cutting the herbs. (Note: humorous figurative) |
| 🥣 Nous finissons la soupe ensemble. | We finish the soup together. |
| 🧴 Vous nourrissez les plantes chaque matin. | You (pl.) water the plants every morning. |
| 🛒 Ils réfléchissent à la liste des courses. | They think about the shopping list. |
Key Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 📅 À quelle heure ouvre le marché ? | What time does the market open? |
| 🛍️ Je finis de choisir et je viens. | I’m finishing selecting and I’ll come. |
| 💳 Je paie par carte. | I pay by card. |
| 🧾 Pouvez-vous donner un reçu ? | Can you give a receipt? |
| 📢 Il y a une offre spéciale aujourd’hui. | There is a special offer today. |
| 🧑🌾 Merci, bonne journée ! | Thank you, have a nice day! |
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-re Verbs
-re verbs form a third group with regular endings in many common verbs. To conjugate, remove -re from the infinitive to find the stem, then add the endings that fit each subject. Some frequently used verbs follow this pattern closely.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🥬 Je vends des bouquets de fleurs. | I sell bunches of flowers. |
| 🥔 Tu rends les paniers vides. | You return the empty baskets. |
| 🗑️ Elle descend les déchets du stand. | She takes down the trash from the stall. |
| 🧺 Nous attendons les clients avec sourire. | We wait for customers with a smile. |
| 📦 Vous entendez l’arrivée de la livraison. | You (pl.) hear the arrival of the delivery. |
| 🚶 Ils perdent du temps dans la queue. | They lose time in the line. |
Key Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🗣️ Bonjour, que vendez-vous ? | Hello, what are you selling? |
| 🧴 Je rends la bouteille pour le consigne. | I return the bottle for the deposit. |
| ⏳ Combien de temps reste le marché ? | How much longer is the market open? |
| 🥳 C’est l’ouverture ce week-end ! | It’s the opening this weekend! |
| 📬 Je prends votre carte de visite. | I’ll take your business card. |
| 🙌 Merci, à bientôt ! | Thanks, see you soon! |
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Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025