Like in English, verbs are action words. Also, as
in English, they usually follow the subject (often a
person), which is doing the action. There are 6
subjects:
• je
• tu
• il/elle/on
• nous
• vous
• ils/elles
I
you
he/she/one
we
you (pl.)
they (m/f)
Les Verbes en “ER”
When a subject and verb are placed together in a
sentence, the form of the verb changes, depending on the
subject used. This is called a conjugation .
Ex: I walk.
Je marche.
You walk.
He walks.
Tu marches.
Il marche
As you can see from the example, the ending of the verb
changes when a different subject is used. In French, there is a
large group of verbs which follow the same pattern. This
group is commonly referred to as “ER” Verbs, because in all
of these verbs, the infinitive (original form of the verb) ends
in ER.
•To conjugate an “ER” verb, remove the “ER” and add:
SUBJECT
ENDING
je
tu
il/elle/on
nous
vous
ils/elles
… e
… es
… e
… ons
… ez
… ent
EXAMPLE
Je marche.
TRANSLATION
I walk.
Tu marches.
You walk.
Il marche.
He walks.
Nous marchons. We walk.
Vous marchez.
You walk.
Ils marchent.
They walk.
Ex: Je marche (marcher= to walk) à l’école.
1.
regardes (regarder= to watch) la télé.
Tu ___________
2.
joue
Il ___________
(jouer= to play) au basketball.
3.
Nous ___________
parlons
(parler= to talk) au téléphone.
4.
écoutez
Vous ___________
(écouter= to listen) la
musique.
5.
dansent
Ils ___________
(danser= to dance) très bien.
6.
chante
Je ___________
(chanter= to sing) “Oh
Canada.”
7.
La fille ___________
(manger= to eat) un
mange
sandwich.
8.
Le garçon ___________
(habiter= to live) à
habite
Clavet.
9.
Les bébés ___________
(pleurer= to cry).
pleurent
aime
10. Un enfant ___________
(aimer= to like) les
bonbons.
• For each of the
following sentences,
conjugate the “ER”
verb with the subject
given.
NOTE:
• If a subject begins with
le or un, it is masculine
singular. Treat it as “IL”
(ending: + e).
•If a subject begins with
la or une, it is feminine
singular. Treat it as
“ELLE” (ending: + e).
•If a subject begins with
les or des, it is either
feminine or masculine
plural. (ending: + ent).
There is another group of verbs which follows a pattern for conjugation. They
are called “IR Verbs”. These verbs, like the “ER” verbs, all end in “IR”.
•To conjugate an “IR” verb, remove the “IR” and add:
SUBJECT
ENDING
je
tu
il/elle/on
nous
vous
ils/elles
… is
… is
… it
… issons
… issez
EXAMPLE
Je finis.
TRANSLATION
I finish.
Tu finis.
You finish.
Il finit.
He finishes.
Nous finissons.
We finish.
Vous finissez.
You finish.
… issent Ils finissent.
They finish.
•For each of the following sentences, conjugate the “IR” verb with the subject given.
Ex: Je finis (finir= to finish) mes devoirs.
1.
rougit
Il ___________
(rougir= to redden).
2.
choisis
Tu ___________
(choisir= to choose) un livre.
3.
blanchissons
Nous ___________
(blanchir= to become pale)
4.
agissez
Vous ___________
(agir= to act) bien.
5.
obéis
J’ ___________
(obéir= to obey) aux adultes.
6.
réagissent
Matthew et Lise ___________
(réagir= to react)
poliment.
7.
grandit
Nicole ___________
(grandir= to grow) très vite.
8.
grossit
Le ballon ___________
(grossir = to enlarge)
NOTE:
• Whenever the subject “JE”
is followed by a vowel, the
contraction: “J’ ” is used.
•A group is masculine when
one or more members is male.
•If a subject begins with la,
une, or is a female person, it
is feminine singular and
treated as “ELLE” (ending: +
it ).
•If a subject begins with le,
un, or is a male person, it is
masculine singular and
treated as “IL” (ending: + it).
corrigé
•For each of the following sentences, conjugate the “IR” verb with the subject given.
Ex: Je finis (finir= to finish) mes devoirs.
1.
Il rougit (rougir= to redden).
2.
Tu choisis (choisir= to choose) un livre.
3.
Nous blanchissons (blanchir= to become pale)
4.
Vous agissez (agir= to act) bien.
5.
J’ obéis (obéir= to obey) aux adultes.
6.
Matthew et Lise réagissent (réagir= to react)
poliment.
7.
Nicole grandit (grandir= to grow) très vite.
8.
Le ballon grossit (grossir = to enlarge)
While many verbs follow a conjugation pattern (like
ER & IR verbs), those which do not follow a pattern
are referred to as “irregular verbs”. Four of the
most common “irregular verbs” are:
•avoir
to have
•être
to be
•aller
to go
•faire
to do / to make
Verbe je / j’
avoir
• to have
être
tu
il/elle
J’ai
Tu as
Il /elle a
(I have)
(you have)
(he/she has)
(we have)
(you have)
(they have)
Tu es
Il /elle est
Nous sommes
Vous êtes
Ils sont
(you are)
(he/she is)
(we are)
(you are)
(they are)
Tu vas
Il /elle va
Nous allons
Vous allez
Ils vont
(we go)
(you go)
(they go)
Je suis
(I am)
• to be
Je vais
aller
nous
Nous avons
vous
Vous avez
(I go)
(you go)
(he/she goes)
faire
Je fais
Tu fais
Il /elle fait Nous faisons
Vous faîtes
• to do
• to make
(I do)
(I make)
(you do)
(you make)
(he does)
(he makes)
(you do)
(you make)
• to go
(we do)
(we make)
ils/elles
Ils ont
Ils font
(they do)
(they make)
NOTES:
•Unlike the English subject “I”, in French, the subject “je” is not always
capitalized. The only time it is capitalized is when it is found at the beginning of a
sentence.
•Remember that je becomes j’ when it is followed by a vowel.
•Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of the verb.
1.
Mme Gareau ________ (être) ton professeur.
2.
J’ ________ (avoir) fini mes devoirs.
3.
Tu ________ (aller) à l’école Clavet.
4.
Leah ________ (faire) un projet.
5.
Michel ________ (avoir) mal à la tête.
6.
Hope et Dana ________ (aller) étudier.
7.
Jordan et moi, nous ________ (faire) la cuisine.
8.
Walker et Adam ________ (être) des élèves.
9.
Nicole et toi, vous ________ (avoir) des questions?
10. Tu ne ________ (aller) pas à la danse?
corrigé
•Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of the verb.
1.
Mme Gareau est (être) ton professeur.
2.
J’ ai (avoir) fini mes devoirs.
3.
Tu vas (aller) à l’école Clavet.
4.
Leah fait (faire) un projet.
5.
Michel a (avoir) mal à la tête.
6.
Hope et Dana vont (aller) étudier.
7.
Jordan et moi, nous faisons (faire) la cuisine.
8.
Walker et Adam sont (être) des élèves.
9.
Nicole et toi, vous avez (avoir) des questions?
10. Tu ne vas (aller) pas à la danse?
A) Fill in the blanks.
1.
Name two kinds of regular
verbs: _____ and _____
2.
How many subjects are
there? __________
3.
1.
To be = _______
a) regarder
2.
To go = _______
b) aller
3.
To make = _______
c) aimer
4.
To watch = _______
d) être
5.
To have = _______
e) jouer
What is the original form
of the verb called?
6.
To choose = ______
f) faire
__________
7.
To like = _______
g) avoir
What happens to the
subject “JE” when it is
followed by a vowel?
8.
To listen = _______
h) finir
9.
To finish = _______
i) écouter
__________
10. To play = _______
What is it called when a
subject and verb are placed
together in a sentence?
__________
4.
5.
B) Match the verb with its
meaning.
j) choisir
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corrigé
B) Match the verb with its
meaning.
A) Fill in the blanks.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Name two kinds of regular
verbs: er and ir
How many subjects are
there? Six
What is it called when a
subject and verb are placed
together in a sentence? A
conjugation
What is the original form
of the verb called?
The infinitive
What happens to the
subject “JE” when it is
followed by a vowel?
It becomes “ j’ ”
1.
To be = D
a) regarder
2.
To go = B
b) aller
3.
To make = F
c) aimer
4.
To watch = A
d) être
5.
To have = G
e) jouer
6.
To choose = J
f) faire
7.
To like = C
g) avoir
8.
To listen = I
h) finir
9.
To finish = H
i) écouter
10. To play = E
j) choisir
__/16