Learning French verbs is one of the most essential and rewarding parts of mastering the French language. Verbs are the heart of any sentence because they express actions, feelings, and states of being. Without verbs, communication in French becomes incomplete.
However, verbs in French are not just simple words — they transform depending on who is doing the action and when it happens. This transformation is called conjugation. While this might sound complex at first, French verbs follow logical and consistent patterns once you understand their structure.
This article will guide you through the types of French verbs, how they are conjugated, and what makes some verbs regular or irregular. Whether you’re a beginner or revising your basics, this will help you build a solid foundation.
1. What Are Verbs in French?
A verb in French represents an action, a process, or a state.
Examples include:
- Parler – to speak
- Finir – to finish
- Vendre – to sell
- Être – to be
- Avoir – to have
Each verb changes depending on the subject pronoun (je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles) and the tense (present, past, future, etc.).
Example with the verb parler (to speak) in the present tense:
- Je parle (I speak)
- Tu parles (You speak)
- Il parle (He speaks)
- Nous parlons (We speak)
- Vous parlez (You speak)
- Ils parlent (They speak)
2. The Infinitive Form
The infinitive is the base or original form of a verb — the one you’ll find in the dictionary.
In English, infinitives are usually written with “to” (like to eat, to go, to study).
In French, infinitives end in -er, -ir, or -re (and sometimes -oir).
Examples:
- Parler – to speak
- Finir – to finish
- Vendre – to sell
- Voir – to see
- Faire – to do / make
Knowing the infinitive ending helps you identify which group a verb belongs to — and therefore how to conjugate it.
3. The Three Groups of French Verbs
Verbs are categorized into three main groups depending on their infinitive endings and conjugation patterns.
1st Group: -ER Verbs
The first group is made up of verbs ending in -er (except aller).
They are regular verbs — meaning they follow predictable patterns.
Example: Parler (to speak)
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je parle | I speak | |
| Tu parles | You speak | |
| Il/Elle parle | He/She speaks | |
| Nous parlons | We speak | |
| Vous parlez | You (formal/plural) speak | |
| Ils/Elles parlent | They speak |
Other examples: aimer (to love), danser (to dance), travailler (to work), écouter (to listen), regarder (to watch).
2nd Group: -IR Verbs
The second group includes verbs ending in -ir that follow the pattern like finir (to finish).
They have a stem that ends in -iss in plural forms.
Example: Finir (to finish)
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je finis | I finish | |
| Tu finis | You finish | |
| Il/Elle finit | He/She finishes | |
| Nous finissons | We finish | |
| Vous finissez | You finish | |
| Ils/Elles finissent | They finish |
Other examples: réussir (to succeed), choisir (to choose), réfléchir (to reflect), grandir (to grow).
3rd Group: -RE, -OIR, and Irregular Verbs
The third group includes all the irregular verbs and those ending in -re, -oir, or irregular -ir endings.
They don’t follow one single pattern, so they need to be memorized individually.
Example 1: Vendre (to sell)
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je vends | I sell | |
| Tu vends | You sell | |
| Il/Elle vend | He/She sells | |
| Nous vendons | We sell | |
| Vous vendez | You sell | |
| Ils/Elles vendent | They sell |
Example 2: Prendre (to take)
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je prends | I take | |
| Tu prends | You take | |
| Il prend | He takes | |
| Nous prenons | We take | |
| Vous prenez | You take | |
| Ils prennent | They take |
Other examples: dire (to say), faire (to do), venir (to come), pouvoir (to be able to), devoir (to have to).
4. Regular vs Irregular Verbs
French verbs can be divided into two major categories — regular and irregular.
- Regular verbs follow predictable conjugation rules.
- Irregular verbs have unique conjugations that you must memorize.
Common irregular verbs include:
- Être (to be) → je suis, tu es, il est…
- Avoir (to have) → j’ai, tu as, il a…
- Aller (to go) → je vais, tu vas, il va…
- Faire (to do/make) → je fais, tu fais, il fait…
Though they’re irregular, these verbs appear very often in daily French conversations.
5. Auxiliary Verbs: Être and Avoir
In French, être (to be) and avoir (to have) are used as auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses such as the passé composé.
Examples:
- J’ai parlé → I spoke / I have spoken
- Je suis allé(e) → I went / I have gone
Most verbs use avoir, but movement and reflexive verbs use être as the auxiliary.
6. Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs show that the subject is performing an action on itself. They use the pronoun se (meaning “oneself”).
Examples:
- Se lever → to get up
- Se laver → to wash oneself
- S’appeler → to call oneself
Conjugation of se lever (to get up):
- Je me lève
- Tu te lèves
- Il se lève
- Nous nous levons
- Vous vous levez
- Ils se lèvent
In compound tenses, reflexive verbs always take être as their auxiliary.
7. Impersonal Verbs
Some French verbs are impersonal, meaning they are only used with “il” and have no real subject.
Examples:
- Il faut → it is necessary
- Il pleut → it is raining
- Il neige → it is snowing
These verbs remain in the third person singular form only.
8. Verb Conjugation Explained
Conjugation in French means changing the verb form depending on the subject and tense.
Each verb has two parts:
- The stem → the base of the verb
- The ending → changes with the subject
Example:
Parler → stem: parl-
- Je parle
- Tu parles
- Il parle
- Nous parlons
- Vous parlez
- Ils parlent
Once you know the endings for each verb group, you can easily conjugate new verbs.
9. Tenses and Moods in French (Overview)
French verbs are used in different tenses (time) and moods (intention).
Main Tenses:
- Le présent → I speak
- Le passé composé → I spoke / I have spoken
- L’imparfait → I was speaking
- Le futur simple → I will speak
- Le conditionnel → I would speak
Main Moods:
- Indicatif → factual statements
- Subjonctif → expressing doubt, desire, emotion
- Impératif → giving orders
- Infinitif → the basic form
10. Tips for Learning French Verbs
- Start with -ER verbs (they are the simplest).
- Study one group at a time.
- Recognize patterns – many verbs share endings.
- Use flashcards for regular and irregular verbs.
- Conjugate aloud – hearing yourself helps memorization.
- Watch French shows and listen to songs – see verbs in action.
- Practice daily – even 5 minutes a day makes a difference.
- Don’t fear irregulars – they repeat often in everyday language.
Conclusion
Understanding and mastering French verbs is the foundation of learning the language. Once you recognize the three main groups and their patterns, conjugation becomes logical. Regular verbs give you confidence, while irregular ones make your speech natural and fluent.
Remember — learning verbs isn’t about memorizing lists, it’s about using them in sentences. The more you speak, write, and listen, the faster you’ll internalize their forms.
Keep practicing, and soon, you’ll be able to express any idea — en français!