Present Tense – Regular Verbs
In French, regular verbs are categorized into three groups based on their endings: -er, -ir, and -re. Each group follows a predictable pattern in the present tense.
-ER Verbs (e.g., parler – to speak)
je parle – I speak
tu parles – you speak
il/elle parle – he/she speaks
nous parlons – we speak
vous parlez – you (plural/formal) speak
ils/elles parlent – they speak
/ʒə paʁl/, /ty paʁl/, /il ɛl paʁl/, /nu paʁlɔ̃/, /vu paʁle/, /ilz ɛl paʁl/
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-IR Verbs (e.g., finir – to finish)
je finis – I finish
tu finis – you finish
il/elle finit – he/she finishes
nous finissons – we finish
vous finissez – you (plural/formal) finish
ils/elles finissent – they finish
/ʒə fini/, /ty fini/, /il ɛl fini/, /nu finiʃɔ̃/, /vu finiʃe/, /ilz ɛl finiʃ/
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-RE Verbs (e.g., vendre – to sell)
je vends – I sell
tu vends – you sell
il/elle vend – he/she sells
nous vendons – we sell
vous vendez – you (plural/formal) sell
ils/elles vendent – they sell
/ʒə vɑ̃d/, /ty vɑ̃d/, /il ɛl vɑ̃d/, /nu vɑ̃dɔ̃/, /vu vɑ̃de/, /ilz ɛl vɑ̃d/
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Example Sentences:
Je parle français. – I speak French.
Tu finis ton travail. – You finish your work.
Ils vendent des livres. – They sell books.
/ʒə paʁl fʁɑ̃sɛ/, /ty fini tɔ̃ tʁavaj/, /ilz vɑ̃d de livʁ/