How do I conjugate regular verbs in the Present Tense in French?

The present tense usually answers for me the question of, "What do you do..."

Examples: What do you do in the morning? What do you do at the pool? What do I do when I get home? ...etc

I say that it answers the question "What do (subject pronoun) do/does..." because for instance, if you are asking someone to do something, or a command, even though it is in the present, you have to use another form of conjugation. Another example, if you are explaining, "What's going on right now" - you also have to use another form of conjugation (the continuous present).

Therefore, the present tense will most likely be used to answer, "What do/does (subject pronoun) do..."

Now that we understand when to use the present tense, let's talk about how to conjugate it!

The present tense is divided into 3 (three) groups! This is a very important factor that you always have to keep in mind in order to use the correct conjugation.

The groups:

1. ER

2. IR

3. RE

These groups are the endings of regular verbs that need to be conjugated depending on the group that it lands on.

Examples of verbs divided into group endings:

1. ER = aimer (to like), écouter (to listen), laver (to wash), parler (to talk)

2. IR = vieillir (to grow old), mentir (to lie), finir (to finish), choissir (to choose)

3. RE = attendre (to wait), prendre (to take), entendre (to hear), rendre (to return)

Understanding the groups, is the first step! (done!)

Now we have to analyze how each group ending conjugates. Let's start with the first group, the "er" group ending.

First, you have to know the French Subject Pronouns. This is very important. This prior knowledge has to be cemented before you understand conjugation (I wrote a blog about them, go over there to study if you are not familiar with the subject pronouns, then come back! :D)

Let us have a quick review:

Je = I

Tu = you (singular/informal)

Elle = she

Il = He

On = one/we/someone

Vous = You (singular/ formal) / / / You (plural)

Nous = We

Ils = They (masculine or masculine/feminine mix)

Elles = They (feminine)

Now that that is done, let's continue with the "ER" ending verbs

Each subject pronoun above will have a specific ending assigned to them:

1. Je = e

2. Tu = es

3. Il = e

4. Elle = e

5. On = e

6. Vous = ez

7. Nous = ons

8. Elles = ent

9. Ils = ent

With that information you will then do the following: Look at the original verb, remove the "er" ending and add the assigned ending depending on the subject pronoun.

Example: Parler (to talk)

The verb "Parler" ends in "er" - now to explain which subject pronoun is do/does the "parler" you have to remove the "er" ending from the word (leaving you with just the stem "parl-") and add the assigned ending.

If I want to answer the question, "Who does the talking (parler)":

1. I talk = Je parle

2. You (informal/singular) talk = Tu parles

3. He talks = Il parle

4. She talks = Elle parle

5. One/we talks = On Parle

6. You (singular/formal or plural) talk = Vous parlez

7. We talk = Nous parlons

8. They (feminine) talk = Elles parlent

9. They (masculine) talk = Ils parlent

Now that you understand how to conjugate, you have to try to make your life easier by creating shortcuts to the conjugation. The best way to do that is to look for similarities. By looking at the lists above, there you will find that some of the subject pronouns conjugate exactly the same. If you memorize which ones conjugate the same, you will have an easier time!

Let us name the subject pronouns that conjugate the same:

1. Je / Il / Elle / On = same endings! (parle)

2. Ils / Elles = same endings (parlent)

Here are the ones with unique endings:

1. Tu = parles

2. Nous = parlons

3. Vous = parlez

Now, let's continue with the "-ir" ending verbs!

Although there are many similarities between the "-er" ending verb rules and "-ir" ending verb rules, at the end of the day, they are not the same. It is important to treat each group as its own world.

Let's talk about what is the same:

1. Subject pronouns (YOU HAVE TO KNOW THEM)

2. There are subject pronouns that conjugate the same

3. You have to remove the "-ir" ending, and leave the stem to add the assigned ending depending on the subject pronoun

Now, let me explain to you what is very different:

1. The endings are different

2. There are two types of conjugations for "-ir" ending verbs, depending on the verb

3. To know which type of ending you will use, unfortunately, you will have to remember which verb uses what type of conjugation

4. The subject pronouns that conjugate the same, are not the same ones from the "-er" ending verbs

Let's get into it!

Here is the first possible way to conjugate (assign endings to the subject pronouns) with "-ir" ending verbs

1. Je = is

2. Tu = is

3. Il = it

4. Elle = it

5. On = it

6. Nous = issons

7. Vous = issez

8. Ils = issent

9. Elles = issent

Before you memorize the endings, look at which subject pronouns conjugate exactly the same:

1. Je / Tu = is

2. Il / Elle / On = it

3. Ils / Elles = issent

Then look at the ones that conjugate differently:

1. Nous = issons

2. Vous = issez

Let's conjugate the verb "Vieillir" (to grow old).

First, let's remove the "-ir" ending and leave the stem = vieill-

Now let's assign the endings to answer, "Who grows old?"

1. I grow old / You (informal/singular) grow old = Je vieillis / Tu vieillis

2. She / He / one grows old = Elle / Il / On vieillit

3. We grow old = Nous vieillissons

4. You (formal singular or plural) grow old = Vous vieillissez

5. They (masc) / They (fem) = Ils/elles vieillissent

We have completed the first way to conjugate the "-ir" ending verbs, however, there is a second way that will be used depending on the verb. First, let us talk about what is the same and what is different from the first way of conjugating:

What's the same:

1. The subject pronouns that conjugate the same, will conjugate the same with this second form of conjugating

What's different:

1. The subject pronouns will have a new assigned ending

2. You will not just remove the "ir" - but also the consonant before the "-ir" (not always, for instance the verb "tenir" gets the regular stem of "ten-")

What are the endings:

1. Je = s

2. Tu = s

3. Elle = t

4. Il = t

5. On = t

6. Nous = ons

7. Vous = ez

8. Ils = ent

9. Elles = ent

The ones that conjugate the same:

1. Je / tu = s

2. Elle / Il / On = t

3. Elles / Ils = ent

The ones that conjugate differently:

1. Nous = ons

2. Vous = ez

To understand this, let's conjugate the verb "mentir (men-)" (to lie)

(side note, usually the stem would be "ment-" however, here you will remove the "-t" as well.)

1. Je / tu mens

2. Il / elle / on ment

3. Nous mentons

4. Vous mentez

5. Ils / elles mentent

Finally, we have the "-re" ending verbs!

This group of "-re" ending verbs seem to confuse a lot of my students. However, I want you to understand one thing. IT IS THE ONE THAT REQUIRES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF WORK :D

The assigned endings:

1. Je = s

2. Tu = s

3. Elle = (nothing / just leave the stem)

4. Il = (nothing / just leave the stem)

5. On = (nothing / just leave the stem)

6. Nous = ons

7. Vous = ez

8. Ils = ent

9. Elles = ent

Subject pronouns that conjugate exactly the same:

1. Je / Tu = s

2. Elle / Il / On = (nothing / just leave the stem)

3. Elles / Ils = ent

Subject pronouns that conjugate differently:

1. Nous = ons

2. Vous = ez

Let's conjugate the verb "Attendre" (to wait) = stem = attend

1. Je / Tu = attends

2. Elle / Il / On = attend

3. Nous = attendons

4. Vous = Attendez

5. Ils / elles = attendent

THAT IS ALL! That is all you need to learn to conjugate the present tense in French. Here are some tips to keep in mind = LOOK FOR SHORTCUTS!

1. Notice how "Nous", no matter the conjugation, it usually ends in "ons"

2. Notice how "Vous" no matter the conjugation usually ends in "ez"

3. Remember that the present tense answers the questions of "who does ...."

4. Memorize which subject pronouns conjugate exactly the same

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY STUDYING!!!!! (you can contact me at any time and I'll answer as soon as I am available - usually Tuesdays - to answer any questions)