1. Look for Verb Endings:
* -er, -ir, -re: These are the most common verb endings. For example: *parler* (to speak), *finir* (to finish), *écrire* (to write).
* -oir, -oire, -oyant, -ant, -ent: These are less common but still important. For example: *recevoir* (to receive), *connaître* (to know), *choisir* (to choose).
2. Consider the Context:
* Word order: Verbs often come after the subject in a sentence (e.g., *Je parle français.* - I speak French).
* Conjugation: Verbs change their form depending on the tense, mood, and person (e.g., *Je parle, tu parles, il parle* - I speak, you speak, he speaks).
* Prepositions: Some prepositions often indicate a verb (e.g., *aller à* - to go to, *venir de* - to come from).
3. Use a Dictionary:
* Look up the word in a French dictionary. It will usually specify the word's part of speech.
4. Be Aware of Exceptions:
* Nouns with verb-like forms: Some nouns can look like verbs (e.g., *le coup* - the blow, *le chant* - the song).
* Verbs with irregular endings: Some verbs have irregular endings that don't follow the typical patterns (e.g., *être* - to be, *avoir* - to have).
Remember: Learning to recognize verbs in French takes practice and familiarity with the language. The more you read, write, and speak French, the better you'll become at identifying verbs.