Conjugate French -RE Verbs Like a Professional: A Definitive Information

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Verbs, the spine of our sentences, make our communication significant and full.  With out verbs, we wouldn’t have a lot to say. Mastering French verbs in a number of tenses is an unbelievable accomplishment, in addition to a little bit of a puzzle! 

Many learners start this journey with -ER verbs, the biggest and best group of verbs in French. Assured and impressed, they transfer on to -IR verbs and wade by means of a mess of irregular verbs and patterns that don’t fairly comply with the foundations. Probably the most devoted learners will perceive the advantage of such examine after they sort out the ultimate class of verbs, those who finish in -RE.  

You’ve already laid the groundwork, so why not add to your verb repertoire?  Having been by means of this earlier than, you might be questioning… how troublesome will it’s?  Fortunately, lots of the fundamental premises are the identical. Tenses, moods, lots of the endings, and lots of the different ideas that associate with conjugation will apply right here, too.  

On the similar time, technically all French -RE verbs—which belong to the troisième groupe (third group) of French verbs, alongside irregular -IR verbs—are irregular. On this publish, you’ll discover ways to establish verb teams and corresponding patterns that can assist you conjugate even the trickiest of -ER verbs. 

Wish to skip the memorization altogether? Rosetta Stone may also help you grasp French verb tenses by means of enjoyable, partaking classes that faucet into the way you discovered language as a toddler—no memorization required. As an alternative, you’ll discover ways to establish conjugation patterns from real-life French in partaking contexts. Study extra about Dynamic Immersion right here, or join your first lesson right this moment! 

Checklist of the most typical French -RE verbs 

French -RE verbs are the smallest group. It’s useful to study the most typical ones.  

*These verbs have irregular conjugations and don’t comply with the common -RE verb conjugation tables for the current tense. They are going to be mentioned individually!

>>Undecided easy methods to pronounce a brand new phrase? See how TruAccent may also help. 

Easy methods to conjugate common French -RE verbs 

You may discover ways to conjugate -RE verbs in French by following a sample. There are a number of totally different patterns to notice, the only of which applies to our “common” -RE verbs. It’s place to start out, with verbs like attendre (to attend for), vendre (to promote), rendre (to provide again, to return), descendre (to descend), and entendre (to listen to) topping the listing.  

 There are a number of issues to remember when conjugating: 

• What’s the tense that finest expresses your concept? 
• Is a separate temper required, such because the subjunctive? 
• Who or what’s the topic? 
• Is the verb irregular on this tense, or does it comply with the common verb sample? 

Current tense (indicative, l’indicatif) 

The current tense is used to inform what occurs frequently, does occur, and is going on in the mean time.  

To kind common -RE verbs on this tense: 

1. Take away the -RE ending.

What stays is the stem.  

2. Add the ending that matches the topic. 

There is no such thing as a ending for the il/elle kind. Eradicating the -RE is all that’s wanted!

Common -RE verbs (current tense, indicative) 

• Je vends mon vélo. = I am promoting my bike. 
• Il entend parfaitement, mais il ne parle pas. = He understands completely, however doesn’t communicate. 

Imperfect tense (l’imparfait)

The imperfect tense is likely one of the fundamental previous tenses in French. It’s used as a descriptive previous: to inform what one thing was like, what often occurred, and describe different ongoing states prior to now.  

Solely être (to be) is irregular within the imparfait, so technically, there are not any irregular -RE verbs within the imperfect tense. All of them will comply with the steps offered right here. Nonetheless, the first step requires you to know the nous kind within the current tense, which may range enormously amongst totally different -RE verbs. Realizing whether or not they’re common or irregular within the current tense is crucial. 

To kind the imperfect, 

1. Take away the -ons from the nous type of the current tense. That is the stem. 
2. Add the next endings, in response to the topic.

Common -RE verbs (imparfait) 

• Je prenais le petit déjeuner tous les jours = I would eat breakfast day by day.
• Il perdait toujours son stylo. = He all the time used to lose his pen. 

Easy previous tense (passé easy)

The passé easy is barely utilized in formal, literary, or historic writing.  You in all probability received’t hear anybody communicate within the passé easy until they’re studying from a textual content. In casual speech, you’ll use the passé composé as an alternative.

You’ll acknowledge that the passé easy makes use of the stem of the verb with out the -RE, and the next endings: 

Common -RE verbs (passé easy) 

• J’entendis le bruit des vagues au loin. = I heard the sound of the waves from afar.

Previous tense (le passé composé)

The passé composé is used to relate accomplished actions prior to now. It’s fabricated from two elements: a serving to verb (or auxiliary verb) and a previous participle. It will likely be necessary to differentiate between this tense and the imparfait.  

Most common French -RE verbs will use avoir (to have) because the auxiliary verb. A particular listing of -RE verbs belong to the group that makes use of être (to be). All previous tense reflexive (or pronominal) verbs are conjugated with être as effectively.  

To kind the passé composé of -RE verbs: 

1. Conjugate both avoir or être, making certain they agree with their topics. 
2. Take away the -RE and add u.
3. Add the female or plural settlement to the previous participle when essential. 

Be aware that every one verbs that use être have this function. In some circumstances, avoir verbs can even want settlement of the previous participle. 

-RE Verbs that use avoir because the auxiliary 

Common verbs comply with an analogous sample to vendre (to promote). 

-RE verbs that use être because the auxiliary 

There may be one verb, descendre (to descend), that makes use of être. It’s common, and should additionally present settlement of the previous participle in each gender and quantity. Be aware that descendre has a number of meanings. Whether it is getting used within the sense of “taking one thing down from its location,” it makes use of avoir like the remainder of the verbs.  

Future tense (le futur)

There’s a approach to make use of aller in a building that tells the close to future: 

Je vais correspondre avec lui demain. = I am going to correspond with him tomorrow.

Nonetheless, the futur easy is a tense that’s used to precise future intentions, plans, or foretell what’s going to occur sooner or later. It corresponds to the English “will + verb.” 

To kind the futur easy of -RE verbs with common stems, 

1. Use the infinitive, minus the ultimate e
2. Add the ending that matches the topic

Common -RE verbs (futur easy) 

• Je défendrai ma famille ! = I will defend my household!

Conditional tense (conditionnel)

The conditional tense (or temper) is used to say what “would” occur if the situations had been proper.  

The conditional is a pleasant tense to study, since you make use of elements you already know! To kind the conditional, use the identical stem because the futur and add the endings for the imparfait. 

Forming the conditionnel of -RE verbs is straightforward: 

1. Use the futur stem (the infinitive minus the ultimate e of standard verbs)
2. Add the imparfait ending that matches the topic.  

Common -RE verbs (conditionnel) 

• Sans notre gardien de however, nous perdrions. = With out our goalie, we would lose.  

Subjunctive temper (subjonctif)

The subjunctive is a temper, distinguished from the indicatif (indicative) temper, due to the conditions in which you’d use it. It’s a giant idea, however put in easy phrases, the subjunctive is used to precise uncertainty, doubt, or a way of fuzzy actuality, in addition to in sentences that impose a will or need on one other topic.  

There are a couple of very irregular -RE verbs within the subjunctive. In truth, lots of the verbs which are irregular within the current indicative are inclined to settle down within the subjunctive and comply with the standard sample of endings. You do must know the ils type of the current tense so as to comply with the less complicated sample, so it’s a trade-off! 

To kind the subjunctive: 

1. Begin with the ils type of the current tense verb.
2. Drop the -ent.  That is the stem. 
3. Add the next endings: 

Common -RE verbs (subjonctif au présent) 

• Il faut que tu rendes l’argent. = It’s essential that you simply give the cash again. 

Crucial temper (l’imperatif) 

The crucial is a temper, separate from the indicatif and the subjonctif moods. It’s used to provide a direct command. There are three varieties of crucial instructions that are completely used with tu, nous, and vous. 

Common verbs within the crucial are actually easy as soon as you already know the current tense! 

1. Use the current tense kinds for tu, nous, or vous. There are not any modifications to the spelling. 
2. Use an exclamation level to indicate the crucial.  

• Rends l’argent ! = Give the cash again! 

Some verbs which are fully irregular will use totally different crucial kinds, as mentioned within the subsequent part. 

Easy methods to conjugate irregular French -RE verbs

Irregular verbs are virtually the rule with regards to frequent -RE verbs in French. Fortunately there are a couple of frequent patterns. 

-RE verbs like lire

This can be a giant set of verbs that drop the -RE and in addition add –s to the stem within the plural kinds. Verbs with this sample within the current tense embrace a number of frequent ones, corresponding to: 

• conduire (to drive)
• construire (to assemble, to construct)
• cuire (to cook dinner)
• frire (to fry)
• instruire (to instruct, to show)
• interdire (to forbid)
• lire (to learn)
• produire (to supply)
• traduire (to translate)

If you happen to encounter one other verb that ends in –uire, this is perhaps place to start out. Be aware that lire is with out a u, however nonetheless belongs to this class. 

lire – to learn (présent, l’indicatif) 

You will need to know the current tense of the verbs on this sample, because the nous kind is the premise for the imperfect, and the ils/elles kind is the premise for the subjunctive. In each instances the  stems will keep the extra s. 

For the passé composé, there are a number of irregular previous participles inside this group. Many will change the –uire of the infinitive for –uit prior to now participle.  

• J’ai lu la recette. = I learn the recipe.  
• J’ai cuit les pommes de terre. = I cooked the potatoes. 
• Il m’a interdit de continuer. = He forbade me to proceed. 
• Elle a traduit la lettre. = She translated the letter. 
• Nous avons produit beaucoup de déchets. = We produced quite a lot of trash. 

-RE verbs like écrire

Verbs much like écrire (to jot down) are much like the earlier group, besides they add v as an alternative of s within the plural kinds.  

This can embrace verbs that embrace the identical root, typically having to do with writing. Listed here are a number of examples: 

• inscrire (to jot down down, to inscribe)
• décrire (to explain), prescrire (to prescribe)
• souscrire (to subscribe)
• transcrire (to transcribe)

écrire – to jot down (présent, l’indicatif) 

• Nous écrivons des lettres. = We write letters.
• Vous décrivez la scenario. = You describe the scenario. 

-RE verbs like atteindre

Verbs ending in -indre are maybe much less frequent, however will enable you to with subtle and exact vocabulary.  They’re fashioned by dropping the -d in the entire kinds. For the plural kinds, a g is added in entrance of the n within the stem. 

Verbs with this sample within the current tense embrace: 

• craindre (to concern)
• joindre (to attach/be a part of)
• éteindre (to extinguish, put out)
• peindre (to color)
• atteindre (to succeed in)

atteindre – to succeed in (présent, l’indicatif) 

You will need to know the current tense of the verbs on this sample, because the nous kind is the premise for the imperfect, and the ils/elles kind is the premise for the subjunctive. In each instances the  stems will keep the extra s. 

For the passé composé, many use the identical kind because the il/elle, exchanging the –dre for  t.   

Il a atteint l’objectif. = He reached the target. 

-RE verbs like rompre

This one is nearly common, apart from the il/elle kind. Use this sample for something that ends in –rompre, together with interrompre.  

rompre – to interrupt (présent, l’indicatif) 

-RE verbs like mettre

These verbs have a double t within the infinitive kinds, however one t is dropped within the singular types of the current tense. They embrace mettre (to place) and any verb that ends with it, in addition to battre and any verb that ends with it. 

mettre – to place (présent, l’indicatif) 

For the passé composé, verbs that finish in –mettre will finish in –mis.  

• J’ai mis la desk. = I set the desk. 
• Il a permis la musique dans la classe. = He permitted music in school.
• Nous n’avons pas admis la faute. = We didn’t admit the error. 

-RE verbs like prendre

Verbs with –prendre within the infinitive kinds will use common -RE endings, however will drop the d within the plural kinds. In addition they double the n within the ils/elles kind.  

prendre – to take (présent, l’indicatif) 

For the passé composé, verbs that finish in –prendre will finish in –pris.  

• J’ai pris le petit déjeuner. = I had breakfast. 
• Il a appris le français. = He discovered French.  

-RE verbs like connaître

This group of verbs consists of:

• connaître (to know)
• disparaître (to vanish)
• reconnaitre (to acknowledge)
• apparaître (to seem)

Verbs with –aître within the infinitive kinds will use the next kinds:

connaître – to know, to be conversant in (présent, l’indicatif) 

Should-know completely irregular -RE verbs

Amongst -RE verbs exist a couple of remarkably distinct verbs which are helpful to know. Whereas their kinds are distinctive, only a few will shock you, as they resemble patterns you may have already seen and discovered. These 5 verbs are among the many mostly used within the language!

1. Être

The place would we be with out être (to be)? Our French can be nowhere with out the most typical verb, which can also be used an auxiliary verb for sure tenses. You’ll see it all over the place, so that you’ll study it shortly. A phrase from the smart: être is all the time irregular, so memorize what’s beneath—and don’t anticipate it to suit into another sample. 

être – to be

The passé composé of être makes use of itself, avoir because the auxiliary verb and the previous participle is été.

• Il a été surpris par la nouvelle. = He was stunned by the information. 

>> Want extra assist with être? Study extra in regards to the primary verb in French! 

2. Faire

What would we do with out faire (to do/to make)? The second fully irregular -RE verb within the high 4, this double-duty verb has two English meanings in addition to its necessary function in quite a few idiomatic expressions, corresponding to faire consideration (to concentrate).  

faire – to do/to make

The passé composé of faire makes use of avoir because the auxiliary verb and the previous participle fait.

• Tu as fait un sandwich pour moi ? = (Have) you made a sandwich for me? 

3. Dire

Dire (to say, to inform) might be so frequent due to how typically we report or narrate speech or dialogue. Although much like lire (to learn) it doesn’t fairly match into that group, so it’s good to study by itself.   

dire – to say/to inform

The passé composé of dire makes use of avoir because the auxiliary verb and the previous participle dit.  

• Elle a dit la vérité. = She instructed the reality. 

4. Vivre 

Vive le français ! (Lengthy stay French!) and all its irregular verb conjugations! Vivre (to stay) is much like the standard patterns… apart from when it’s not! 

vivre – to stay  

The passé composé of vivre makes use of avoir because the auxiliary verb and the previous participle vécu.   

• Il a vécu toute sa vie ici. = He lived his complete life right here.  

5. Boire

Boire (to drink) has a number of fascinating kinds finest loved whereas hydrated. Seize your bouteille d’eau (bottle of water) and drink within the irregularities of this frequent verb. 

Boire – to drink   

The passé composé of boire makes use of avoir because the auxiliary verb and the previous participle bu.

• J’ai bu un litre d’eau. = I drank a liter of water.  

Grasp French -RE verbs with Rosetta Stone

Whether or not you’re reviewing, repeating, or revisiting these conjugation charts, do not forget that -RE verbs will enable you to kind sentences and extra subtle buildings.  -RE verbs are among the many mostly used verbs in French, in order that they’re price figuring out! 

Whereas it’s true that they’re frequent, the irregular verb endings aren’t going to be straightforward to memorize in the event you attempt to study them in isolation. Strengthen your verb energy by partaking with these verbs in context. Phrases corresponding to “J’ai perdu mes clés !”  (I misplaced my keys!) are simpler to recollect long-term than dozens of verb kinds utilizing conjugation charts alone. 

Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion methodology is a confirmed strategy to get the publicity to the patterns of conjugating verbs in a approach that can supercharge your French. Since you’ll be interacting with important contexts and buildings in an attractive approach, you’ll be effectively in your strategy to easy and fluent communication! With a complete suite of partaking classes, studying options, and instruments that can assist you refine your accent, Rosetta Stone may also help you communicate French confidently from day one. 

Written by Jamie Edwards

Jamie is a learner and instructor of Spanish and French. When she’s not studying new phrases, you’ll discover her on the soccer sidelines, ski slopes, and observe and area bleachers having fun with the 4 seasons of Western New York.