Conjugation
To conjugate a verb means to change the form, in French usually the ending, to reflect the subject and tense.
Compared to English, where the conjugation generally follows a predictable pattern (for example, adding an ‘s’ to the third person form – he walks – or an ‘ed’ to reflect the past – he walked), French has many more variations.
Conjugating verbs is often, for English speakers, the most challenging aspect of learning the French language.
But don’t worry! Many of the conjugation variations for different pronouns often have more to do with how they are spelled than how they are pronounced. You will also find it becomes easier to master the more you are exposed to hearing and seeing the language.
Even better news – there are patterns :
Regular Verbs. There are three types of regular verbs: -er verbs (ex. parler) , -ir verbs (ex.partir), and –re verbs (ex. rendre). Each type follows a predictable pattern of conjugation. In other words, if you know how to conjugate parler, then you also know how to conjugate travailler,, and other verbs that end in –er.
Irregular Verbs. There are some verbs that do not follow the conjugation of the three types of regular verbs, so they are, hence, called irregular verbs.
In some cases, you have a group of irregular verbs that have the same ending and follow the same pattern. For example, ouvrir, offrir, and souffrir that all follow the same irregular pattern, so if you know how to conjugate one, than you can conjugate the whole group.
A few verbs are really irregular in that they follow a pattern of conjugation that is unique to themselves. For example, être, avoir, aller and faire. You will have to learn the conjugation of these verbs separately. The good news, though, is that because they are such high frequency words and often some of the most common verbs, you will have many opportunities to memorize their forms.
Compared to English, where the conjugation generally follows a predictable pattern (for example, adding an ‘s’ to the third person form – he walks – or an ‘ed’ to reflect the past – he walked), French has many more variations.
Conjugating verbs is often, for English speakers, the most challenging aspect of learning the French language.
But don’t worry! Many of the conjugation variations for different pronouns often have more to do with how they are spelled than how they are pronounced. You will also find it becomes easier to master the more you are exposed to hearing and seeing the language.
Even better news – there are patterns :
Regular Verbs. There are three types of regular verbs: -er verbs (ex. parler) , -ir verbs (ex.partir), and –re verbs (ex. rendre). Each type follows a predictable pattern of conjugation. In other words, if you know how to conjugate parler, then you also know how to conjugate travailler,
Irregular Verbs. There are some verbs that do not follow the conjugation of the three types of regular verbs, so they are, hence, called irregular verbs.
In some cases, you have a group of irregular verbs that have the same ending and follow the same pattern. For example, ouvrir, offrir, and souffrir that all follow the same irregular pattern, so if you know how to conjugate one, than you can conjugate the whole group.
A few verbs are really irregular in that they follow a pattern of conjugation that is unique to themselves. For example, être, avoir, aller and faire. You will have to learn the conjugation of these verbs separately. The good news, though, is that because they are such high frequency words and often some of the most common verbs, you will have many opportunities to memorize their forms.
