French -ER Verb Conjugation: A Complete Guide
French -ER verbs form the largest group of verbs in the French language. These verbs, known as first group verbs, end in -er in their infinitive form.
Understanding how to conjugate these verbs is crucial for anyone learning French.
The Basics of -ER Verb Conjugation
To conjugate an -ER verb, remove the -er ending from the infinitive to get the stem. Then, add the appropriate ending based on the tense and subject pronoun.
For example, with the verb "parler" (to speak):
- Stem: parl-
- Je parle (I speak)
- Tu parles (You speak)
- Il/Elle/On parle (He/She/One speaks)
Present Tense (Présent)
The present tense is used for actions happening now or habitual actions.
Endings: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
Example with "aimer" (to love):
- J'aime
- Tu aimes
- Il/Elle/On aime
- Nous aimons
- Vous aimez
- Ils/Elles aiment
Imperfect Tense (Imparfait)
The imperfect tense describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past.
Endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
Example with "danser" (to dance):
- Je dansais
- Tu dansais
- Il/Elle/On dansait
- Nous dansions
- Vous dansiez
- Ils/Elles dansaient
Future Simple (Futur Simple)
The future simple is used for actions that will happen in the future.
Endings: -erai, -eras, -era, -erons, -erez, -eront
Example with "chanter" (to sing):
- Je chanterai
- Tu chanteras
- Il/Elle/On chantera
- Nous chanterons
- Vous chanterez
- Ils/Elles chanteront
Conditional Present (Conditionnel Présent)
The conditional is used to express hypothetical situations or polite requests.
Endings: -erais, -erais, -erait, -erions, -eriez, -eraient
Example with "voyager" (to travel):
- Je voyagerais
- Tu voyagerais
- Il/Elle/On voyagerait
- Nous voyagerions
- Vous voyageriez
- Ils/Elles voyageraient
Subjunctive Present (Subjonctif Présent)
The subjunctive is used to express doubt, desire, or necessity.
Endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent
Example with "parler" (to speak):
- Que je parle
- Que tu parles
- Qu'il/elle/on parle
- Que nous parlions
- Que vous parliez
- Qu'ils/elles parlent
Imperative (Impératif)
The imperative is used for commands or requests.
Endings: -e, -ons, -ez
Example with "écouter" (to listen):
- Écoute !
- Écoutons !
- Écoutez !
Compound Tenses
Compound tenses use the auxiliary verb "avoir" (to have) or "être" (to be) plus the past participle of the main verb. For regular -ER verbs, the past participle is formed by adding -é to the stem.
Example: Passé Composé of "arriver" (to arrive)
- Je suis arrivé(e)
- Tu es arrivé(e)
- Il/Elle/On est arrivé(e)
- Nous sommes arrivé(e)s
- Vous êtes arrivé(e)(s)
- Ils/Elles sont arrivé(e)s
Practice Makes Perfect
To truly master -ER verb conjugations, regular practice is key. leçon.ai offers personalized exercises tailored to your level, helping you reinforce your understanding of French verb conjugations.
Conclusion
French -ER verb conjugation follows consistent patterns across various tenses. By learning these patterns and practicing regularly, you'll soon find yourself conjugating -ER verbs with ease.
Consistency is crucial in language learning, so keep practicing and don't hesitate to use these verbs in real conversations.