What is a verb?
A verb describes what someone or something does, is, or what happens to them.
Here are a few examples of verbs.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| jouer | to play |
| regarder | to watch |
| finir | to finish |
| choisir | to choose |
| penser | to think |
| adorer | to love |
| manger | to eat |
| être | to be |
The Infinitive
The infinitive is the form of a verb before it has been adapted to the context it is used in. The infinitive can be translated as “to (verb)“. They end in -er, -ir, or -re. The infinitive is used when a second verb is used (such as after opinions) and as a base for conjugating.
Conjugation
Regular Verbs
To conjugate regular verbs, there is a rule to follow. This does not apply to all verbs though. You first need to remove the ending, which can be -er, -ir, or -re.. Then, you add an ending depending on the context.
| Subject | Ending |
|---|---|
| je | -e |
| tu | -es |
| il / elle / on | -e |
| nous | -ons |
| vous | -ez |
| ils / elles | -ent |
Irregular Verbs
Some verbs do not follow the regular pattern. They just have to be learnt as they all have a different format.
Avoir
| Subject | Avoir |
|---|---|
| j’ | ai |
| tu | as |
| il / elle / on | a |
| nous | avons |
| vous | avez |
| ils / elles | ont |
Helen Myers: Avoir Pink Panther Song
Être
| Subject | Être |
|---|---|
| je | suis |
| tu | es |
| il / elle / on | est |
| nous | sommes |
| vous | êtes |
| ils / elles | sont |