Like in English, verbs are words. Also, as in English, they usually follow the (often a person), which is doing the action. There are subjects:

• I• you• he/she/one• we• you • they (masc/fem.)

actionsubject

6

je

nousil/elle/ontu

vousils/elles

Les Verbes en “ER”When a subject and verb are placed together in a sentence, the form of the verb changes, depending on the subject used. This is called a .

Ex: I walk. You walk. He walks.

Je marche. Tu marches. Il marche

As you can see from the example, the ending of the verb changes when a different subject is used. In French, there is a large group of verbs which follow the same pattern. This group is commonly referred to as “ER” Verbs, because in all of these verbs, the (original form of the verb) ends in ER.

conjugation

infinitive

SUBJECT ENDING EXAMPLE TRANSLATION

je … Je marche. I walk.

tu … Tu marches. You walk.

il/elle/on … Il marche. He walks.

nous … Nous marchons. We walk.

vous … Vous marchez. You walk.

ils/elles … Ils marchent. They walk.

•To conjugate an “ER” verb, remove the “ER” and add:

e es e

ons ez ent

NOTE:

• If a subject begins with le or un, it is masculine singular. Treat it as “IL” (ending: + e).

•If a subject begins with la or une, it is feminine singular. Treat it as “ELLE” (ending: + e).

•If a subject begins with les or des, it is either feminine or masculine plural. (ending: + ent).

• For each of the following sentences, conjugate the “ER” verb with the subject given.

Ex: Je marche (marcher= to walk) à l’école.

1. Tu ___________ (regarder= to watch) la télé.

2. Il ___________ (jouer= to play) au basketball.

3. Nous ___________ (parler= to talk) au téléphone.

4. Vous ___________ (écouter= to listen) la musique.

5. Ils ___________ (danser= to dance) très bien.

6. Je ___________ (chanter= to sing) “Oh Canada.”

7. La fille ___________ (manger= to eat) un sandwich.

8. Le garçon ___________ (habiter= to live) à Clavet.

9. Les bébés ___________ (pleurer= to cry).

10. Un enfant ___________ (aimer= to like) les bonbons.

Ex: Je marche (marcher= to walk) à l’école.

1. Tu regardes (regarder= to watch) la télé.

2. Il joue (jouer= to play) au basketball.

3. Nous parlons (parler= to talk) au téléphone.

4. Vous écoutez (écouter= to listen) la musique.

5. Ils dansent (danser= to dance) très bien.

6. Je chante (chanter= to sing) “Oh Canada.”

7. La fille mange (manger= to eat) un sandwich.

8. Le garçon habite (habiter= to live) à Clavet.

9. Les bébés pleurent (pleurer= to cry).

10. Un enfant aime (aimer= to like) les bonbons.

corrigé

• For each of the following sentences, conjugate the “ER” verb with the subject given.

There is another group of verbs which follows a pattern for conjugation. They are called “IR Verbs”. These verbs, like the “ER” verbs, all end in “IR”.

•To conjugate an “IR” verb, remove the “IR” and add:

SUBJECT ENDING EXAMPLE TRANSLATION

je … Je finis. I finish.

tu … Tu finis. You finish.

il/elle/on … Il finit. He finishes.

nous … Nous finissons. We finish.

vous … Vous finissez. You finish.

ils/elles … Ils finissent. They finish.

is is

it issons issez

issent

•For each of the following sentences, conjugate the “IR” verb with the subject given.

NOTE:

• Whenever the subject “JE” is followed by a vowel, the contraction: “J’ ” is used.

•A group is masculine when one or more members is male.

•If a subject begins with la, une, or is a female person, it is feminine singular and treated as “ELLE” (ending: + it ).

•If a subject begins with le, un, or is a male person, it is masculine singular and treated as “IL” (ending: + it).

Ex: Je finis (finir= to finish) mes devoirs.

1. Il ___________ (rougir= to redden).

2. Tu ___________ (choisir= to choose) un livre.

3. Nous ___________ (blanchir= to become pale)

4. Vous ___________ (agir= to act) bien.

5. J’ ___________ (obéir= to obey) aux adultes.

6. Matthew et Lise ___________ (réagir= to react) poliment.

7. Nicole ___________ (grandir= to grow) très vite.

8. Le ballon ___________ (grossir = to enlarge)

•For each of the following sentences, conjugate the “IR” verb with the subject given.

corrigé

Ex: Je finis (finir= to finish) mes devoirs.

1. Il rougit (rougir= to redden).

2. Tu choisis (choisir= to choose) un livre.

3. Nous blanchissons (blanchir= to become pale)

4. Vous agissez (agir= to act) bien.

5. J’ obéis (obéir= to obey) aux adultes.

6. Matthew et Lise réagissent (réagir= to react) poliment.

7. Nicole grandit (grandir= to grow) très vite.

8. Le ballon grossit (grossir = to enlarge)

While many verbs follow a conjugation pattern (like ER & IR verbs), those which do not follow a pattern are referred to as “irregular verbs”. Four of the most common “irregular verbs” are:

•avoir •être

•aller •faire

to be

to have

to go

to do / to make

Verbe je / j’ tu il/elle nous vous ils/ellesavoir

• to have

(I have)

(you have)

(he/she has)

(we have)

(you have)

(they have)

être• to be (I am) (you are) (he/she is) (we are) (you are) (they have)

aller• to go

(I go)

(you go)

(he/she goes)

(we go)

(you go)

(they go)

faire• to do • to make

(I do)

(I make)

(you do)

(you make)

(he does)

(he makes)

(we do)

(we make)

(you do)

(you make)

(they do)

(they make)

NOTES:

•Unlike the English subject “I”, in French, the subject “je” is not always capitalized. The only time it is capitalized is when it is found at the beginning of a sentence.

•Remember that je becomes j’ when it is followed by a vowel.

Je suis Tu es Il /elle est Nous sommes Vous êtes Ils sont

J’ai Tu as Il /elle a Nous avons

Vous allez

Ils ont

Je vais Tu vas Il /elle va Nous allons

Vous avez

Ils vont

Ils font Vous faîtes Nous faisons Il /elle fait Tu faisJe fais

•Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of the verb.

1. Mme Gareau ________ (être) ton professeur.

2. J’ ________ (avoir) fini mes devoirs.

3. Tu ________ (aller) à l’école Clavet.

4. Leah ________ (faire) un projet.

5. Michel ________ (avoir) mal à la tête.

6. Hope et Dana ________ (aller) étudier.

7. Jordan et moi, nous ________ (faire) la cuisine.

8. Walker et Adam ________ (être) des élèves.

9. Nicole et toi, vous ________ (avoir) des questions?

10. Tu ne ________ (aller) pas à la danse?

•Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of the verb.

1. Mme Gareau est (être) ton professeur.

2. J’ ai (avoir) fini mes devoirs.

3. Tu vas (aller) à l’école Clavet.

4. Leah fait (faire) un projet.

5. Michel a (avoir) mal à la tête.

6. Hope et Dana vont (aller) étudier.

7. Jordan et moi, nous faisons (faire) la cuisine.

8. Walker et Adam sont (être) des élèves.

9. Nicole et toi, vous avez (avoir) des questions?

10. Tu ne vas (aller) pas à la danse?

corrigé

1. Name two kinds of regular verbs: _____ and _____

2. How many subjects are there? __________

3. What is it called when a subject and verb are placed together in a sentence? __________

4. What is the original form of the verb called? __________

5. What happens to the subject “JE” when it is followed by a vowel? __________

B) Match the verb with its meaning.

1. To be = _______2. To go = _______3. To make =

_______4. To watch =

_______5. To have =

_______6. To choose =

______7. To like =

_______8. To listen =

_______9. To finish =

_______10. To play =

_______

a) regarder

b) allerc) aimerd) êtree) jouerf) faireg) avoirh) finiri) écouterj) choisir

A) Fill in the blanks.

__/16

1. Name two kinds of regular verbs: er and ir

2. How many subjects are there? Six

3. What is it called when a subject and verb are placed together in a sentence? A conjugation

4. What is the original form of the verb called? The infinitive

5. What happens to the subject “JE” when it is followed by a vowel? It becomes “ j’ ”

B) Match the verb with its meaning.

1. To be = D2. To go = B3. To make = F4. To watch = A5. To have = G6. To choose = J7. To like = C8. To listen = I9. To finish = H10. To play = E

a) regarder

b) allerc) aimerd) êtree) jouerf) faireg) avoirh) finiri) écouterj) choisir

A) Fill in the blanks.

__/16

corrigé