In French, a verb is inflected to reflect its mood and tense, as well as to agree with its subject in person and number. Following the tradition of Latin grammar, the set of inflected forms of a French verb is called the verb's conjugation.
More than 10 000 French verbs exist, but only 2 000 of them are frequently used.
First group verbs u5z3d
The french first group verbs are the verbs ending in
-er. This is the largest class (90% of french verbs). French verbs ending in
-er inflect somewhat differently from other verbs. Between the stem and the inflectional endings that are common across most verbs, there may be a vowel, which in the case of the
-er verbs is a silent
-e- (in the simple present singular),
-é or
-ai /e/ (in the past participle and the je form of the simple past), and
-a- /a/ (in the rest of simple past singular and in the past subjunctive). In addition, the orthographic
-t found in the
-ir and
-re verbs in the singular of the simple present and past is not found in this conjugation, so that the final consonants are
-Ø, -s, -Ø rather than
-s, -s, -t.
The conjugation table of the first group follow the conjugation of the verb
aimer. The endings for the conjugation of the french first group verbs are regular (even if the stems are not always regular).
Endings for the conjugation of the french first group verbs g2j4c
- INFINITIVE : -er
- INDICATIVE
- Present :-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
- Imperfect : -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
- Simple Future : -erai, -eras, -era, -erons, -erez, -eront
- Simple Past : -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent
- SUBJUNCTIVE
- Present : -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent
- Imperfect : -asse, -asses, -ât, -assions, -assiez, -assent
- CONDITIONAL
- Present : -erais, -erais, -erait, -erions, -eriez, -eraient
- IMPERATIVE
- PARTICIPLE
- Present : -ant
- Past : -é, -és, -ée, ées
Compound tenses 1b3ll
Conjugations for the different French verb tenses can be divided into two categories: simple and compound. Simple tenses have only one part (
je suis) whereas compound tenses have two: an auxiliary verb and the past participle (
j'ai été). The auxiliary verb is always either
avoir or
être.
There are 8 compound tenses based on the conjugation of the auxiliaries in the 8 simple tenses added to the past participle:
- auxiliary in present indicative + past participle of main verb = present perfect indicative (é composé de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in imperfect indicative + past participle of main verb = pluperfect indicative (plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in simple past indicative + past participle of main verb = past perfect indicative (é antérieur de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in simple future indicative + past participle of main verb = future perfect indicative (futur antérieur de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in present subjunctive + past participle of main verb = past subjunctive (é du subjonctif)
- auxiliary in imperfect subjunctive + past participle of main verb = pluperfect subjunctive (plus-que-parfait du subjonctif)
- auxiliary in present conditional + past participle of main verb = past conditional (conditionnel é)
- auxiliary in present imperative + past participle of main verb = past imperative (impératif é)
Second group verbs cr2r
The french second group verbs are the verbs ending in
-ir. The conjugation table of the secound group follow the conjugation of the verb
finir. The
-ir verbs differ from the
-er verbs in the following points:
The vowel of the inflections is always
-i-, for example
-isse in the past subjunctive rather than the
-asse of the
-er verbs.
A few of the singular inflections themselves change, though this is purely orthographic and does not affect the pronunciation: in the simple present and past, these are -s, -s, -t rather than -Ø, -s, -Ø. (The change in pronunciation is due to the change of vowel from e, ai, a to -i-.)
In the simple present, imperfect, the present subjunctive, and the gerund, a suffix
-iss- /is/ appears between the root and the inflectional endings. In the simple present singular, this suffix has disappeared and the endings are
-is, -is, -it.
The stem of the second group verbs is regular except for the verbs
haïr.
The endings for the conjugation of the french secound group verbs are regular.
Endings for the conjugation of the french second group verbs 231d5r
- INFINITIVE : -ir
- INDICATIVE
- Present : -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
- Imperfect : -issais, -issais, -issait, -issions, -issiez, -issaient
- Simple future : -irai, -iras, -ira, -irons, -irez, -iront
- Simple past : -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent
- SUBJUNCTIVE
- Present : -isse, -isses, -isse, -issions, -issiez, -issent
- Imperfect : -isse, -isses, -ît, -issions, -issiez, -issent
- CONDITIONAL
- Present : -irais, -irais, -irait, -irions, -iriez, -iraient
- IMPERATIVE
- Present : -is, -issons, -issez
- PARTICIPLE
- Present : -issant
- Past : -i
Compound tenses 1b3ll
Conjugations for the different French verb tenses can be divided into two categories: simple and compound. Simple tenses have only one part (
je suis) whereas compound tenses have two: an auxiliary verb and the past participle (
j'ai été). The auxiliary verb is always either
avoir or
être.
There are 8 compound tenses based on the conjugation of the auxiliaries in the 8 simple tenses added to the past participle:
- auxiliary in present indicative + past participle of main verb = present perfect indicative (é composé de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in imperfect indicative + past participle of main verb = pluperfect indicative (plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in simple past indicative + past participle of main verb = past perfect indicative (é antérieur de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in simple future indicative + past participle of main verb = future perfect indicative (futur antérieur de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in present subjunctive + past participle of main verb = past subjunctive (é du subjonctif)
- auxiliary in imperfect subjunctive + past participle of main verb = pluperfect subjunctive (plus-que-parfait du subjonctif)
- auxiliary in present conditional + past participle of main verb = past conditional (conditionnel é)
- auxiliary in present imperative + past participle of main verb = past imperative (impératif é)
Third group verbs 542ue
The first two groups follow a regular conjugation, whereas the third group follows an irregular one. The third group is considered a closed-class conjugation form, meaning that most new verbs introduced to the French language are of the first group (
vouloir.
Below you will find the endings of the third group verbs for each tense.
Endings 2j136n
Present indicative d4j60
There are two types of endings in present indicative :
First type of endings for the verbs:
assaillir,
couvrir,
cueillir,
défaillir,
offrir,
ouvrir,
souffrir,
tressaillir and other similars verbs :
-e,
-es,
-e,
-ons,
-ez,
-ent
Second type of endings for the others verbs:
-s -ds ou
-x,
-s -ds ou
-x,
-t ou
-d,
-ons,
-ez,
-ent
Simple past indicative 5u3nq
There are four types of endings in simple past indicative :
-a, in
-i, in
-u or in
-in :
Endings in
-a only for the verb aller:
-ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent :
J'allai, tu allas, il alla, nous allâmes, vous allâtes, ils allèrent.
Endings in
-i for the
-ir verbs and
-re verbs :
-is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.
Je descendis, tu descendis, il descendit, nous descendîmes, vous descendîtes, ils descendirent.
Endings in
-u for the verbs:
courir,
boire,
émouvoir,
lire,
moudre,
pouvoir,
taire,
vivre... :
-us, -us, -ut, -ûmes, -ûtes, -urent.
Je courus, tu courus, il courut, nous courûmes, vous courûtes, ils coururent.
Endings in
-in for the verbs
tenir,
venir and other similars verbs :
-ins, -ins, -int, -înmes, -întes, -inrent :
Je tins, tu tins, il tint, nous tînmes, vous tîntes, ils tinrent.
Simple future indicative 2w3e3o
In simple future, endings are always
-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.
Je partirai, tu partiras, il partira, nous partirons, vous partirez, ils partiront
Only the stem changes for a few verbs :
For the
-re verbs, the final
-e is removed:
Je descendrai ; je prendrai ; je répandrai ; je boirai
For the verbs:
acquérir,
courir,
mourir,
pouvoir,
voir, and similars verbs, another
r is added to the stem :
J'acquerrai ; je courrai ; je mourrai ; je pourrai ; je verrai
Le future stem of verb
cueillir and similars verbs is
cueiller- :
Tu cueilleras, nous accueillerons, ils recueilleraient
Totally irregulars verbs :
Aller => j'irai, Avoir => j'aurai, Etre => je serai
Present conditional 4n3d32
In present conditional the endings are the following :
-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
Je partirais, tu partirais, il partirait, nous partirions, vous partiriez, ils partiraient
Le stem is the same as simple futur:
je boirai / je boirais ; tu pourras / tu pourrais ; il cueillera / il cueillerait ; nous irons /nous irions
Present subjunctive 456y3i
The stem in present subjunctive is usually derived from that of the third person plural in present indicative except for the verbs
aller,
avoir,
être,
faire,
falloir,
pouvoir,
savoir,
traire,
valoir,
vouloir :
Verb
suivre, in present indicative :
je suis, tu suis, il suit, nous suivons, vous suivez, ils suivent.
Verb
suivre, in present subjunctive:
(que) je suive, tu suives, il suive, nous suivions, vous suiviez, ils suivent.
Verb
vouloir, in present indicative :
je veux, tu veux, il veut, nous voulons, vous voulez, ils veulent.
Verb
vouloir, in present subjunctive:
(que) je veuille, tu veuilles, il veuille, nous voulions, vous vouliez, ils veuillent.
When the stem of the first and second person plural in present indicative is not the same as the four other persons, the stem of the first and second person plural in present indicative is used for the first and second person plural in present subjunctive :
Verbe
devoir, in present indicative :
je dois, tu dois, il doit, nous devons, vous devez, ils doivent.
Verbe
devoir, in present subjunctive:
(que) je doive, tu doives, il doive, nous devions, vous deviez, ils doivent.
Endings are the followings except for
avoir :
-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
que je sorte, que tu sortes, qu'il sorte, que nous sortions, que vous sortiez, qu'ils sortent
Imperfect subjonctive 1c161q
The stem in imperfect subjunctive is derived from that of the secund person singular in simple past indicative (except for the secund person singular where the
s is replace by the accent
^ on the preceding vowel). There are four type of endings in imperfect subjonctive:
-se, -ses, -^t, -sions, -siez, -sent :
Endings in
-a (only for the verb aller):
(Il fallait) que j'allasse, que tu allasses, qu'il allât, que nous allassions, que vous allassiez, qu'ils allassent
Endings in
-i:
(Il fallait) que je prisse, que tu prisses, qu'il prît, que nous prissions, que vous prissiez, qu'ils prissent
Endings in
-u:
(Il fallait) que je pusse, que tu pusses, qu'il pût, que nous pussions, que vous pussiez, qu'ils pussent
Endings in
-in:
(Il fallait) que je vinsse, que tu vinsses, qu'il vînt, que nous vinssions, que vous vinssiez, qu'ils vinssent
Imperative 416wm
The conjugation in present subjunctive is usually derived from that of the conjugation in present indicative.:
Bois, buvons, buvez
Exceptions:
avoir , être, savoir, vouloir, assaillir, couvrir, cueillir, défaillir, offrir, ouvrir, souffrir, tressaillir and derived verbs.
Aie, ayons, ayez Sois, soyons, soyez Sache, sachons, sachez Veuille, veuillons, veuillez Cueille, ouvre, va, aie, sache, veuille
Past participle 403q3j
Past participle in
-é for verbs:
aller, être, naître, naitre :
Allé, été, né
Past participle in
-i for verbs:
rire, suivre, luire, suffire, nuire and for verbs in
-ir (except for the verbs
courir, couvrir, férir, mourir, offrir, ouvrir, quérir, souffrir, tenir, venir, vêtir and similar verbs) :
Parti, souri, sorti, suivi, suffi, lui, nui, ri
Past participle in
-u for verbs in
-oir (except
asseoir and similar verbs) for verbs in
-ir (
courir, férir, tenir, venir, vêtir and similar verbs) and for verbs in
-re (except
absoudre, clore, dissoudre, éclore, inclure, mettre, prendre and similar verbs) :
Pu, voulu, vu, bu, descendu, tordu, couru, tenu, venu, vêtu
Past participle in
-s (
-is,
-os ou
-us) for verbs:
absoudre, acquérir, asseoir ou assoir, circoncire, clore, conquérir, dissoudre, enquérir, inclure, mettre, occire, prendre and similar verbs.
Acquis, conquis, enquis, requis, circoncis, mis, occis, pris, sis, clos, absous, dissous, inclus
Past participle in
-t (
-ait, -int, -it, -ort, -ert):
- for verbs in -ir (couvrir, offrir, mourir, ouvrir, souffrir): Couvert, offert, mort, ouvert, souffert
- for verbs in -indre and in -uire (except for luire and nuire): Craint, t, peint, bruit, cuit
- for verbs in -re (confire, dire, écrire, frire, faire, traire): Confit, dit, écrit, frit, fait, trait
Compound tenses 1b3ll
Conjugations for the different French verb tenses can be divided into two categories: simple and compound. Simple tenses have only one part (
je suis) whereas compound tenses have two: an auxiliary verb and the past participle (
j'ai été). The auxiliary verb is always either
avoir or
être.
There are 8 compound tenses based on the conjugation of the auxiliaries in the 8 simple tenses added to the past participle:
- auxiliary in present indicative + past participle of main verb = present perfect indicative (é composé de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in imperfect indicative + past participle of main verb = pluperfect indicative (plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in simple past indicative + past participle of main verb = past perfect indicative (é antérieur de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in simple future indicative + past participle of main verb = future perfect indicative (futur antérieur de l'indicatif)
- auxiliary in present subjunctive + past participle of main verb = past subjunctive (é du subjonctif)
- auxiliary in imperfect subjunctive + past participle of main verb = pluperfect subjunctive (plus-que-parfait du subjonctif)
- auxiliary in present conditional + past participle of main verb = past conditional (conditionnel é)
- auxiliary in present imperative + past participle of main verb = past imperative (impératif é)