Present Tense of Group 2 and 3 Verbs in French
Introduction
The present tense (le présent de l'indicatif) is a fundamental tense in French. After covering group 1 verbs, we'll now focus on conjugating group 2 and 3 verbs in the present tense.
Group 2 Verbs
All group 2 verbs end in -ir and are conjugated the same way in the present tense.
Conjugation Rule
Remove the -ir ending from the infinitive and add: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
Example with the verb "finir" (to finish)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | finis | I finish |
| Tu | finis | You finish (singular/informal) |
| Il/Elle/On | finit | He/She/One finishes |
| Nous | finissons | We finish |
| Vous | finissez | You finish (plural/formal) |
| Ils/Elles | finissent | They finish |
Other group 2 verbs: choisir (to choose), réfléchir (to reflect), grandir (to grow), obéir (to obey)
Group 3 Verbs
Group 3 verbs are the most irregular. They can end in -ir, -oir, -re, or -dre.
Some common group 3 verbs
| Verb | Je | Tu | Il/Elle/On | Nous | Vous | Ils/Elles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faire (to do/make) | fais | fais | fait | faisons | faites | font |
| Aller (to go) | vais | vas | va | allons | allez | vont |
| Prendre (to take) | prends | prends | prend | prenons | prenez | prennent |
| Voir (to see) | vois | vois | voit | voyons | voyez | voient |
| Vouloir (to want) | veux | veux | veut | voulons | voulez | veulent |
Important Irregular Verbs
Some very frequent verbs have particular conjugations:
| Verb | Je | Tu | Il/Elle/On | Nous | Vous | Ils/Elles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Être (to be) | suis | es | est | sommes | êtes | sont |
| Avoir (to have) | ai | as | a | avons | avez | ont |
Key Points
- All group 2 verbs follow the same conjugation pattern.
- Group 3 verbs are irregular and must be learned individually.
- Some verbs change their stem in conjugation (e.g., aller → je vais).
- Regular practice is essential to master these conjugations.
Exercises
Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense:
- Choisir (Nous _____) [to choose]
- Prendre (Tu _____) [to take]
- Voir (Ils _____) [to see]
- Être (Vous _____) [to be]
Answers: 1. choisissons, 2. prends, 3. voient, 4. êtes
Conclusion
Mastering group 2 and 3 verbs in the present tense is crucial for expressing yourself correctly in French. Although some verbs are irregular, regular practice will allow you to use them with ease in your daily conversations.
Laisser un commentaire
Commentaires
Aucun commentaire pour le moment.