Verbes en -er

Monsieur Clark

Infinitive

The form of the verb we find in the dictionary is called the “infinitive”.

Infinitive

This is expressed in English by “to …”,

e.g. to play, to think, to sing

Infinitive

In French the most common regular verb in the infinitive is the –er verb,

e.g. jouer = to play

Present tense

This expresses an action which is happening at the present time.

Je joue = I am playing / I play

To form the present tense

Subject pronoun + the stem + the appropriate ending

Subject pronounsje = Itu = you (sing.)

il = he/itelle = she/iton = one

nous = wevous = you (pl./sing polite)

ils = they (m,m+f)

elles =they(f)

The stem

In –er verbs the stem is formed by removing the –er.

jouer

The Endingsje = -etu = -esil = -eelle = -eon = -e

nous = -ons

vous = -ezils = -entelles = -ent

jouer – to playje joutu jouil jouelle jouon jou

e ese e e

nous jou

vous jou

ils jou

elles jou

ons

ez

ent

ent

chanter – to singje chanttu chantil chantelle chant on chant

e ese e e

nous chant

vous chant

ils chant

elles chant

ons

ez

ent

ent

aimer – to like/lovej’aimtu aimil aimelle aim on aim

e es e e e

nous aim

vous aim

ils aim

elles aim

ons

ez

ent

ent