6. Conjugation of Verbs in the Present

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The conjugation of verbs in the present tense in French is a crucial aspect of learning the language. Learning the correct conjugation of verbs not only helps you communicate more effectively, but also helps you understand the language better. In this section, we will explore the conjugation of present tense verbs in French.

In French, verbs are classified into three groups, according to the ending of the infinitive: -er, -ir and -re. Each group has its own conjugation rules. Let's start with the verbs ending in -er, which are the most common.

-er verbs

The conjugation of -er verbs in the present tense is quite simple. Remove the -er ending from the infinitive to get the verb root and add the appropriate endings. For example, the verb "parler" becomes:

• Je parle (I speak)
• Tu parles (You speak)
• Il/Elle/On parle (He/She speaks, We speak)
• Nous parlons (We speak)
• Vous parlez (You speak)
• Ils/Elles parlent (They speak)

Verbs -ir

For -ir verbs, the conjugation is also quite straightforward. Remove the -ir ending to get the verb root and add the appropriate endings. For example, the verb "finir" becomes:

• Je finis (I finish)
• Tu finis (You finish)
• Il/Elle/On finit (He/She finishes, We finish)
• Nous finissons (We're done)
• Vous finissez (You finish)
• Ils/Elles finissent (They finish)

-re verbs

The -re verbs are a little more complicated. Most of these verbs remove the -re ending and add the appropriate endings, but there are some exceptions. For example, the verb "prendre" (to catch) becomes:

• Je prends (I catch)
• Tu prends (You catch)
• Il/Elle/On prend (He/She takes, We take)
• Nous prenons (We took it)
• Vous prenez (You take it)
• Ils/Elles prennent (They/They catch)

Also, it is important to note that there are many irregular verbs in French that do not follow these conjugation rules. These verbs need to be memorized individually. Some common examples include "être" (to be), "avoir" (to have), "aller" (to go), "faire" (to do), and "venir" (to come).

In summary, conjugating present tense verbs in French can be challenging, but with practice and memorization, it can become second nature. Remember that correct conjugation of verbs is essential to communicate effectively in French. Practice regularly and you will see improvements in no time.

We hope this section has helped to clarify the conjugation of verbs in the present tense in French. Keep practicing and you'll soon be conjugating verbs like a native!

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77. Conjugation of Verbs in the Past