The 20 Most Widespread French Verbs You Must Know
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Suppose you’ve received a deal with on the fundamentals of French? It’s time to take motion and kind extra advanced sentences together with your favourite French phrases! To try this, you’ll must know a number of the commonest French verbs that kind the constructing blocks of French grammar.
Relying on who you’re talking to and the way properly you recognize them, you’ll must conjugate French verbs to match the context of your dialog. This information to widespread French verbs will enable you to get a deal with utilizing verbs within the current tense and the most typical methods native audio system use them. A listing of conjugations for a number of continuously used common and irregular verbs on this checklist is included too!
Most typical verbs in French
Similar to in English, French has plenty of auxiliary verbs and customary verbs which are utilized in many sorts of sentences. This chart has a number of the hottest root verbs you’ll wish to know as you study to communicate French.
| French | English |
| aimer | to like / to love |
| aller | to go |
| avoir (auxiliary) | to have |
| croire | to imagine / to assume |
| devoir | to must / should |
| dire | to say |
| ȇtre (auxiliary) | to be |
| faire | to do / to make |
| finir | to complete / to finish |
| parler | to talk / to speak |
| penser | to assume |
| pouvoir | to have the ability to / can |
| prendre | to take |
| regarder | to observe |
| savoir | to know |
| suivre | to observe |
| trouver | to search out |
| venir | to come back |
| voir | to see |
| vouloir | to need |
Irregular French verbs: avoir, aller, être, and faire
The commonest verbs in French are avoir (to have), aller (to go), être (to be), and faire (to do). These verbs are used all through the French language in phrases like faire la vaisselle (to scrub the dishes) or allons-y (let’s go) or as idioms like être une poule mouillée (to be a coward). Auxiliary verbs like être and avoir are key for conjugating sure tenses.
- faire la vaisselle = to scrub the dishes
- allons-y = let’s go
- être une poule mouillée = to be a coward (literal translation: to be a moist hen)
They’re additionally all irregular verbs, that means they every have their very own distinctive conjugations. Right here’s kind avoir, aller, être, and faire within the current tense:
| Topic Pronoun | avoir (to have) | aller (to go) | être (to be) | faire (to do) |
| je I | ai (j’ai) | vais | suis | fais |
| tu you (casual) | as | vas | es | fais |
| il / elle he / she | a | va | est | fait |
| nous we | avons | allons | sommes | faisons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | avez | allez | êtes | faites |
| ils / elles they | ont | vont | sont | font |
Common French verb endings
Most French verbs will be conjugated in accordance with a sample based mostly on the verb’s ending. Verbs that observe these conjugation patterns are referred to as common verbs. If you get extra comfy in French, you’ll start to acknowledge these patterns.
The context of a dialog may also dictate which phrases you’ll use. For casual conversations with a pal or a member of the family, you’ll use tu to say “you.” For extra formal conversations, like a enterprise assembly, the pronoun vous is the suitable strategy to consult with the opposite particular person. Vous can also be the pronoun used for “you all” in each formal and casual conditions.
There are French gender guidelines to observe that dictate the usage of totally different pronouns. For teams of ladies the plural elles is suitable, and for combined gender or teams of solely males, ils is the suitable pronoun to make use of.
Listed here are widespread common verb endings for -ER, -IR, and -RE verbs.
| Topic Pronoun | -ER Ending | -IR Ending | -RE Ending |
| je I | -e | -is | -s |
| tu you (casual) | -es | -is | -s |
| il / elle he / she | -e | -it | |
| nous we | -ons | -issons | -ons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | -ez | -issez | -ez |
| ils / elles they | -ent | -issent | -ent |
Widespread -ER verbs in French
Studying conjugate -ER verbs in French would be the best of all. To conjugate them within the current tense, you’ll drop the -ER off the tip of the verb and substitute it with the ending that matches the topic of the sentence. Other than aller, there are only a few irregular -ER verbs.
Aimer
One of many first verbs you’ll study in French is aimer (to love). You could already acknowledge this verb from the phrase je t’aime or “I like you.” The most effective (and most intuitive) methods to study a brand new language is by speaking in regards to the issues that you just like and dislike. If you begin with these primary sentences, you’ll get comfy with subject-verb settlement and begin to study vocabulary in regards to the issues that curiosity you.
- J’aime le chocolat chaud. = I like sizzling chocolate.
- Elle aime chanter. = She likes to sing.
- Ils aiment jouer aux jeux vidéo. = They wish to play video video games.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | aime |
| tu you (casual) | aimes |
| il / elle he / she | aime |
| nous we | aimons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | aimez |
| ils / elles they | aiment |
Penser
Penser means “to assume.” There are three essential ways in which you’ll use penser in a sentence.
The primary is penser adopted by the infinitive type of one other verb.
- Je pense pouvoir finir mon devoir. = I believe I can end my homework.
The second is penser adopted by que, which suggests “to assume that” after they’re used collectively.
- Il pense que la glace au chocolat est la meilleure. = He thinks that chocolate ice cream is one of the best.
And the third is penser adopted by à, that means “to consider” or “to consider.”
- Nous pensons au dîner. = We’re occupied with dinner.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | pense |
| tu you (casual) | penses |
| il / elle he / she | pense |
| nous we | pensons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | pensez |
| ils / elles they | pensent |
Trouver
Trouver means “to search out.” When used with a reflexive pronoun, equivalent to me (myself), trouver will be an alternative choice to “I believe.”
- Vous trouvez votre clé. = You discovered your key.
- Je me trouve plus vieille. = I believe that I look older. (literal translation: I discover myself older.)
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | trouve |
| tu you (casual) | trouves |
| il / elle he / she | trouve |
| nous we | trouvons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | trouvez |
| ils / elles they | trouvent |
Regarder
Regarder means “to observe.” It signifies the act of watching, whether or not that’s a TV present or a efficiency. Relying on the context, you might wish to use the extra passive verb voir (to see) as a substitute.
- Je regarde la télé. = I’m watching television.
- Ils regardent le match. = They’re watching the sport.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | regarde |
| tu you (casual) | regardes |
| il / elle he / she | regarde |
| nous we | regardons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | regardez |
| ils / elles they | regardent |
Widespread -IR verbs in French
You’ll additionally must know conjugate French -IR verbs within the current tense. The hot button is to drop off the ending of the verb and substitute it with the ending matching the topic of the sentence. It’s value noting that although the final two letters are the identical, -IR verbs are conjugated in a different way than -OIR verbs, that are irregular.
Venir
Venir means “to come back.” There are two essential methods you’ll use venir in a sentence.
The primary is venir by itself.
- Ils viennent pour déjeuner. = They’re coming for lunch.
The second is venir adopted by de, which suggests “to come back from.” You’ll use this to inform folks the place you’re from!
- Je viens des États-Unis. = I’m from america.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | viens |
| tu you (casual) | viens |
| il / elle he / she | vient |
| nous we | venons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | venez |
| ils / elles they | viennent |
Widespread -RE verbs in French
To conjugate French -RE verbs within the current tense, you’ll drop off the ending of the verb and substitute it with the ending matching the topic of the sentence. Nonetheless, there are many -RE verbs in French which are irregular, together with être. Understanding which -RE verbs are common or irregular will grow to be simpler as you follow.
Suivre
Suivre means “to observe.”
- Cette route swimsuit la rivière. = This highway follows the river.
- Les canetons suivent leur mère. = The ducklings are following their mom.
You’ll discover that the current tense of suivre for je and tu is spelled the identical as the current tense of être. Relying on the context of the sentence you’ll be capable of differentiate between the 2.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | suis |
| tu you (casual) | suis |
| il / elle he / she | swimsuit |
| nous we | suivons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | suivez |
| ils / elles they | suivent |
Prendre
Prendre means “to take.” This verb turns out to be useful when describing strategies of transportation.
- Je prends le metro. = I’m taking the subway.
- Tu prends ton livre. = You’re taking your guide.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | prends |
| tu you (casual) | prends |
| il / elle he / she | prend |
| nous we | prenons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | prenez |
| ils / elles they | prennent |
Widespread -OIR verbs in French
There are numerous French verbs that finish in -OIR, and all of them are irregular. -OIR verbs all have related conjugations, however since each -OIR verb is irregular there will probably be small variations amongst them.
Devoir
Devoir means “to must.” Together with describing actions that you have to take, devoir will typically be utilized in instructions. It’s normally adopted by the infinitive type of one other verb.
- Il doit travailler. = He has to work.
- Tu dois finir ton repas. = You will need to end your meal.
Colloquially, le devoir means “homework.”
- Je dois finir mes devoirs. = I’ve to complete my homework.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | dois |
| tu you (casual) | dois |
| il / elle he / she | doit |
| nous we | devons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | devez |
| ils / elles they | doivent |
Savoir
Savoir means “to know,” however particularly, to know information or do issues. It’s the sort of data that’s sure. Alternatively, connaître—the opposite French verb which means “to know”—refers to data with a way of familiarity, like understanding somebody you’ve met personally or data of a sort of music.
A great way to recollect the distinction is to contemplate the generally used phrase savoir-faire or “know-how.” In English, savoir-faire refers to somebody having sensible “street-smarts” or a sure data of accomplish duties simply.
- Je sais qui est le président. = I do know who the president is.
- Je ne sais pas. = I don’t know.
- Mes sœurs savent où est le restaurant. = My sisters know the place the restaurant is.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | sais |
| tu you (casual) | sais |
| il / elle he / she | sait |
| nous we | savons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | savez |
| ils / elles they | savent |
Pouvoir
Pouvoir means “to have the ability to.” Most frequently pouvoir is used to create sentences expressing issues you could and cannot do.
- Elle ne peut pas venir aujourd’hui. = She will be able to’t come immediately.
- Nous pouvons jouer avec vous. = We are able to play with you.
| Topic Pronoun | Conjugation |
| je I | peux, puis |
| tu you (casual) | puex |
| il / elle he / she | puet |
| nous we | pouvons |
| vous you (formal or plural) | pouvez |
| ils / elles they | peuvent |
Able to say j’aime Français with Rosetta Stone?
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