The French language classifies its verbs into three main groups according to the ending of their infinitive forms and their conjugations. This classification helps identify conjugation patterns and facilitates learning.
First Group: -er Verbs
The first group includes verbs whose infinitive ends in -er, with the exception of aller. These verbs follow a regular conjugation pattern.
Examples
to sing (chanter), to speak (parler), to give (donner), to love (aimer)Conjugation in the present indicative of parler:
- je parle
- tu parles
- il/elle parle
- nous parlons
- vous parlez
- ils/elles parlent
Second Group: -ir Verbs
The second group consists of verbs ending in -ir that form their present participle in -issant. These verbs have a relatively regular conjugation pattern.
Examples
to finish (finir), to choose (choisir), to grow (grandir), to blush (rougir), to yellow (jaunir), to blacken (noircir) and many verbs formed from adjectives.Conjugation in the present indicative of finir:
- je finis
- tu finis
- il/elle finit
- nous finissons
- vous finissez
- ils/elles finissent
Third Group: Irregular Verbs
The third group includes all other verbs. These verbs have irregular conjugations.
Some examples you might already know: to leave (partir), to see (voir), to take (prendre), to be (être), to have (avoir), to go (aller)
Examples
Some examples you might already know: to leave (partir), to see (voir), to take (prendre), to be (être), to have (avoir), to go (aller)
Partir
- je pars
- tu pars
- il/elle part
- nous partons
- vous partez
- ils/elles partent
Voir
- je vois
- tu vois
- il/elle voit
- nous voyons
- vous voyez
- ils/elles voient
Prendre
- je prends
- tu prends
- il/elle prend
- nous prenons
- vous prenez
- ils/elles prennent
Être
- je suis
- tu es
- il/elle est
- nous sommes
- vous êtes
- ils/elles sont
Avoir
- j'ai
- tu as
- il/elle a
- nous avons
- vous avez
- ils/elles ont
Aller
- je vais
- tu vas
- il/elle va
- nous allons
- vous allez
- ils/elles vont