-ER Verbs
General Conjugation Pattern:
* Je: -e
* Tu: -es
* Il/Elle/On: -e
* Nous: -ons
* Vous: -ez
* Ils/Elles: -ent
Example: Parler (to speak)
* Je parle
* Tu parles
* Il/Elle/On parle
* Nous parlons
* Vous parlez
* Ils/Elles parlent
Key Points
* Regularity: Most -er verbs follow this pattern.
* Stem: The stem of the verb (the part before the ending) remains consistent throughout the conjugation.
* Accents: Be mindful of accents in the second person singular (tu) and third person singular (il/elle/on) forms.
-IR Verbs
General Conjugation Pattern:
* Je: -is
* Tu: -is
* Il/Elle/On: -it
* Nous: -issons
* Vous: -issez
* Ils/Elles: -issent
Example: Finir (to finish)
* Je finis
* Tu finis
* Il/Elle/On finit
* Nous finissons
* Vous finissez
* Ils/Elles finissent
Key Points
* Irregular Stems: Some -ir verbs have irregular stems, like partir (to leave) which becomes pars in the "je" form.
* Sound Changes: Some -ir verbs experience sound changes in the present tense conjugation, like dormir (to sleep) which becomes dors in the "je" form.
Important Notes
* Reflexive Verbs: When dealing with reflexive verbs (verbs that have a reflexive pronoun like "me," "te," "se," etc.), you add the reflexive pronoun to each conjugated form: Je me lave (I wash myself), Tu te laves (You wash yourself), etc.
* Irregular Verbs: There are many irregular verbs in French, including common ones like avoir (to have), être (to be), faire (to do), and aller (to go). These verbs have unique conjugation patterns that need to be learned.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to master verb conjugation is through practice. Start with common verbs and gradually expand your knowledge to include more complex verbs. There are many resources available online and in textbooks to help you practice.