📘 What is a Verb?
A verb is a word that expresses an action, a state, or an occurrence.
French verbs are essential building blocks of communication. They describe actions, feelings, and states. Every French verb falls into one of three main groups based on its infinitive ending: -ER, -IR, and -RE. Understanding verb types and their conjugation patterns is crucial to forming correct and meaningful sentences in French.
🧠 Examples in English:
- I speak French.
- She is happy.
- They go to school.
In French:
- Je parle français.
- Elle est heureuse.
- Ils vont à l’école.
📚 Types of French Verbs
French verbs are grouped into three main categories, based on the ending of their infinitive form (the base form of the verb).
✅ 1. First Group: -ER Verbs
- Most common group.
- Verbs ending in -ER (except aller).
🔹 Examples:
- Parler (to speak)
- Aimer (to love)
- Chanter (to sing)
👨🏫 Regular Pattern:Je parle, Tu parles, Il parle, Nous parlons, Vous parlez, Ils parlent
✅ 2. Second Group: -IR Verbs (Regular)
- Verbs ending in -IR and having -issons in “nous” form.
🔹 Examples:
- Finir (to finish)
- Choisir (to choose)
- Réussir (to succeed)
👨🏫 Regular Pattern:Je finis, Tu finis, Il finit, Nous finissons, Vous finissez, Ils finissent
✅ 3. Third Group: Irregular Verbs
- Verbs ending in -RE, -IR, -OIR, and some -ER verbs.
- These verbs do not follow a fixed pattern.
🔹 Examples:
- Être (to be)
- Avoir (to have)
- Aller (to go)
- Faire (to do/make)
- Prendre (to take)
👨🏫 Each irregular verb must be learned individually.
📌 Special Verb Types:
- Reflexive Verbs (les verbes pronominaux): e.g., se lever (to get up)
- Auxiliary Verbs: être and avoir — used to form compound tenses.
- Modal Verbs: vouloir (to want), pouvoir (to be able), devoir (must/have to)
📝 Summary Table:
| Group | Ending | Regularity | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | -ER | Regular | parler, aimer |
| 2nd | -IR | Regular | finir, choisir |
| 3rd | -RE/-IR/-OIR/-ER | Irregular | être, avoir, faire |
Would you like to move next to:
- ✅ Present tense conjugation of each group?
- ✅ Top 20 most common French verbs with meanings and examples?
- ✅ Practice quiz or worksheet?
Mastering French verbs begins with recognizing their groups and learning how they change with different subjects. Regular verbs follow fixed rules, while irregular verbs must be memorized individually. With consistent practice and awareness of verb types, learners can confidently construct sentences and express thoughts clearly in French across all tenses and situations.