What are -ER verbs?
* Most Common: -ER verbs are the largest and most common group of verbs in French.
* Regular Verbs: They follow consistent patterns for conjugation.
* Examples: "parler" (to speak), "manger" (to eat), "chanter" (to sing)
The Endings
Here's a table showing the endings for -ER verbs in different tenses:
| Tense | Ending | Example (parler - to speak) |
|---|---|---|
| Present | -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent | je parle, tu parles, il parle, nous parlons, vous parlez, ils parlent |
| Imperfect | -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient | je parlais, tu parlais, il parlait, nous parlions, vous parliez, ils parlaient |
| Future | -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont | je parlerai, tu parleras, il parlera, nous parlerons, vous parlerez, ils parleront |
| Conditional | -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient | je parlerais, tu parlerais, il parlerait, nous parlerions, vous parleriez, ils parleraient |
| Passé composé | -é, -é, -é, -é, -é, -és | j'ai parlé, tu as parlé, il a parlé, nous avons parlé, vous avez parlé, ils ont parlé |
| Subjunctive | -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent | que je parle, que tu parles, qu'il parle, que nous parlions, que vous parliez, qu'ils parlent |
Important Notes:
* Stem: The stem of the verb is the base part of the verb. For example, the stem of "parler" is "parl-"
* Pronoun + Ending: To conjugate, you combine the subject pronoun (je, tu, il, elle, etc.) with the correct ending.
How to Conjugate
1. Identify the stem: Remove the "-er" ending from the infinitive verb (e.g., "parler" -> "parl-")
2. Add the correct ending: Choose the ending that matches the tense and subject pronoun.
Example: Let's conjugate "chanter" (to sing) in the present tense:
* Stem: "chant-"
* Present Endings: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
* Conjugations:
* Je chante
* Tu chantes
* Il chante
* Nous chantons
* Vous chantez
* Ils chantent
Remember:
* There are some irregular verbs in French, but most -ER verbs are regular.
* Practice is key to mastering verb conjugations!