Les verbes (verbs)
In French, verbs are traditionally divided into four groups:
1.) ER ending verbs
2.) IR ending verbs
3.) RE ending verbs
4.) Irregular verbs
* In simple tenses, the verbal form consists of a stem and an ending. The stem is what remains of
a verb when the ending is taken away.
ER ending verbs: The present tense of ER regular verbs can be formed by dropping the
infinitive ending er and adding the personal endings:
Endings Exemple : Parler
Je _e Parler → parler → parl + endings
Tu _es Je parle
Il _e Tu parles
Elle _e Il parle
Nous _ons Elle parle
Vous _ez Nous parlons
Ils _ent Vous parlez
Elles _ent Ils parlent
Elles parlent
* We have some verbs which have some spelling and accent changes.
CER ending verbs: the accent cedilla (ʖ) is placed under C (Ç) in the conjugation of nous only.
Commencer (to begin, to start)
Je commence Nous commençons C + a/ o /u = K
Tu commences Vous commencez C+e/i =S
Il/elle commence Ils/elles commencent Ç + a/ o /u = S
Annoncer (to announce), divorcer (to get a divorce), renoncer (to give up), etc.
GER ending verbs: an “e” is added before adding “ons” in the conjugation of nous only.
Manger (to eat)
Je mange Nous mangeons G+a/o/u= ग
Tu manges Vous mangez G+e/i =ज
Il/elle mange Ils/elles mangent
Arranger (to arrange), corriger (to correct), voyager (to travel), diriger (to manage), etc.
YER ending verbs : In the conjugation of « je, tu, il / elle and ils / elles», «y» gets changed into «i» but in
nous and vous it remains the same.
Envoyer (to send)
J’envoie Nous envoyons
Tu envoies Vous envoyez
Il/elle envoie Ils/elles envoient
Payer (to pay), essayer (to try), balayer (to sweep), nettoyer (to clean), etc.
Some other verbs
Préférer (to prefer)
Je préfère Nous préférons célébrer (to celebrate)
Tu préfères Vous préférez espérer (to hope)
Il/elle préfère Ils/elles préfèrent répéter (to repeat)
Note: In the conjugation of “je, tu, il, elle, ils and elles”, put accent grave on 2nd e “è” at the
place of accent aigu “é”.
Mener (to lead) amener (to bring)
Je mène Nous menons acheter (to buy)
Tu mènes Vous menez élever (to bring up, to rise)
Il/Elle mène Ils/elles mènent emmener (to take away)
Note: Put accent grave on 1st e “è” in the conjugation of “je, tu, il, elle, ils and elles”,.
Appeler (to call) rappeler (to call back, to remind)
J’appelle Nous appelons renouveler (to renew)
Tu appelles Vous appelez épeler (to spell)
Il/elle appelle Ils/elles appellent jeter (to throw) (double « t »)
Note: In the conjugation of “je, tu, il, elle, ils and elles”, we write double “L” or “T” but in nous
and vous single “L” or “T”.
Note: We have an exception verb “aller” which has different conjugations.
Aller (to go)
Je vais Nous allons
Tu vas Vous allez
Il/elle va Ils/elles vont
Some ER ending verbs:
Accepter to accept Discuter to discuss
Adorer to adore Diviser to divide
Aider to help Donner to give
Aimer to like Échouer to fail
Ajouter to add Écouter to listen
Allumer to light Embrasser to kiss
Apporter to bring Enseigner to teach
Bavarder to gossip Entraîner to train
Briller to shine Entrer to enter
Bruler to burn Épouser to marry
Cacher to hide Étudier to study
Casser to break Éviter to avoid
Chauffer to heat (up), warm (up) Expliquer to explain
Chanter to sing Féliciter to congratulate
Chercher to search, to look for Fermer to close
Commander to order, to command Frapper to strike
Comparer to compare Fumer to smoke
Compter to count Gagner to gain, to win, to earn
Consulter to consult Garder to keep, to guard
Copier to copy Gâter to spoil
Couper to cut Gronder to scold
Couter to cost Habiter to live in
Crier to shout Heurter to hit, to collide with
Danser to dance Ignorer to ignore
Déjeuner to have lunch Informer to inform
Demander to ask Insister to insist
Dessiner to draw Installer to install, to settle down
Diner to have dinner Jouer to play
Jurer to swear Ramasser to collect, to gather
Klaxonner to horn, to hoot Regarder to look at, watch
Laisser to leave, to spare Regretter to be sorry, to regret
Laver to wash Rencontrer to meet
Lier to tie Rentrer to return
Louer to hire, to rent Réserver to reserve
Manifester to demonstrate Rester to remain, to stay
Manquer to miss, to lack Rêver to dream
Marcher to walk Saluer to greet
Monter to climb Sauter to jump
Montrer to show Sembler to seam
Négocier to negotiate Siffler to whistle
Nommer to name Soigner to take care of
Oublier to forget Sonner to ring
Pardonner to pardon Souhaiter to wish
Parler to speak, to talk Souligner to underline
Passer to pass, to spend Stationner to park
Peigner to comb Téléphoner to telephone
Penser to think Tirer to pull
Pleurer to cry Tomber to fall
Plier to fold, to bend Tourner to turn
Porter to carry, to wear Tousser to cough
Poser to place, to put down Travailler to work
Pousser to push, to grow Traverser to cross
Préparer to prepare Trouver to find
Prêter to land Tuer to kill
Prier to pray, to beg Utiliser to use
Qualifier to qualify, to describe Vérifier to verify
Quitter to leave Voler to fly, to steal
Raconter to narrate, to tell Zapper to channel-hop
