Understanding French Verb Conjugation: Regular vs. Irregular Verbs
Mastering French verb conjugation is one of the biggest challenges for learners. Verbs change depending on the subject, tense, and sometimes even mood, making it essential to understand their structure. While regular French verbs follow predictable patterns, irregular French verbs require memorization due to their unique forms.
In this guide, we’ll break down regular vs. irregular verbs, providing clear explanations, conjugation tables, and useful tips. Whether you’re struggling with the French present tense, past tense, or beyond, this article will help simplify your learning process.
What Are Regular and Irregular Verbs in French?
French verbs are categorized into two main types:
Regular verbs follow set conjugation rules, making them easier to learn.
Irregular verbs do not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
Understanding these distinctions will help you build a strong grammatical foundation.
How to Conjugate Regular Verbs (ER, IR, RE Verbs)
1. ER Verbs (e.g., parler – to speak)
ER verbs are the most common type in French and follow a predictable pattern.
Present Tense:
SubjectParler (to speak)JeparleTuparlesIl/Elle/OnparleNousparlonsVousparlezIls/Ellesparlent
Past Tense (Passé Composé):
Uses avoir + past participle (parlé). Example: J’ai parlé.
Future Tense:
Add endings to the infinitive (parler → parlerai, parleras, parlera, etc.).
2. IR Verbs (e.g., finir – to finish)
Present Tense:
SubjectFinir (to finish)JefinisTufinisIl/Elle/OnfinitNousfinissonsVousfinissezIls/Ellesfinissent
3. RE Verbs (e.g., vendre – to sell)
Present Tense:
SubjectVendre (to sell)JevendsTuvendsIl/Elle/OnvendNousvendonsVousvendezIls/Ellesvendent
Understanding Irregular Verbs and Their Patterns
Irregular verbs do not follow standard conjugation patterns. However, they often share similarities in groups.
Common Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugations
1. Être (to be)
SubjectÊtre (Present)JesuisTuesIl/Elle/OnestNoussommesVousêtesIls/Ellessont
2. Avoir (to have)
SubjectAvoir (Present)JeaiTuasIl/Elle/OnaNousavonsVousavezIls/Ellesont
3. Aller (to go)
SubjectAller (Present)JevaisTuvasIl/Elle/OnvaNousallonsVousallezIls/Ellesvont
French Verb Conjugation in Different Tenses
Passé Composé (Past Tense)
Uses avoir or être + past participle.
Example: J’ai mangé (I ate), Il est allé (He went).
Imparfait (Imperfect Tense)
Used for past habits or ongoing actions.
Formed by dropping the -ons from the nous form and adding -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
Example: Je parlais (I was speaking).
Futur Simple (Future Tense)
Add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont to the infinitive.
Example: Je parlerai (I will speak).
Mistakes to Avoid When Learning French Verbs
Mixing Up Avoir and Être in Passé Composé
J’ai allé ❌ → Je suis allé ✅
Forgetting Irregular Forms
Je prend ❌ → Je prends ✅
Using the Wrong Ending for Regular Verbs
Nous parlont ❌ → Nous parlons ✅
Practical Tips for Mastering French Verb Conjugation
Practice Daily: Repetition helps reinforce patterns.
Use Mnemonics: For example, remember Dr & Mrs Vandertramp for verbs using être in the past tense.
Create Flashcards: Helps with memorizing irregular forms.
Immerse Yourself: Read and listen to French as much as possible.
How Our French Classes Can Help
At Polyglottist Language Academy, our courses provide:
Interactive grammar lessons tailored to different levels.
Personalized feedback from expert instructors.
Practical exercises to improve fluency and retention.
If you’re struggling with French verb conjugation, our structured approach will help you master even the trickiest verbs!
Conclusion & Call to Action
Mastering regular and irregular French verbs is key to fluency. With structured learning, daily practice, and expert guidance, you can confidently use French verbs in conversation.
Ready to improve your French?
Join our French classes at Polyglottist Language Academy today!