5
LE TEMPS DES VERBES
All verbs, no matter what tense, have somewhat of a pattern. Many use stems plus specific endings. Others have their own specific stems. Here is a handy resource tool to help you write different tenses and their endings that accompany them. Through continued use and practice, these verbs should become automatic, just like your times table in math.
LE PRÉSENT- the present tense.
This tense is used for actions happening now. For regular verbs, the stem is formed by dropping the last 2 letters of the infinitive. The infinitive is the non conjugated form of the verb. The infinitive is how one can find the definition of the verb in the dictionary. Here are some words that can help you identify the present tense: aujourd’hui (today), maintenant(now), toute de suite ( right away/immediately) and en ce moment (at this moment).
LES VERBES RÉGULIERS
SUBJECTPRONOUNS / ER
parler / RE
perdre / IR
choisir
Je, J’ / parle / perds / choisis
Tu / parles / perds / choisis
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / parle / perd / choisit
Nous / parlons / perdons / choisissons
Vous / parlez / perdez / choisissez
Ils, Elles / parlent / perdent / choisissent
Voici une liste de VERBES RÉGULIERS. They follow the above endings. There are many more, here are just a few.
accepter – to accept bâiller – to yawn changer – to change couper – to cut
adapter – to adapt bavarder – to chat chanter – to sing danser – to dance
admirer – to admire blaguer – to joke chauffer – to heat déchirer – to tear
adorer – to adore blâmer – to blame chercher – to look for décorer – to decorate
aider – to help blesser – to hurt collectionner – to collect demander – to ask
aimer – to like/love botter – to boot commander – to order déménager – to move
ajouter – to add bouger – to move commencer - to begin désirer – to desire
arrêter – to stop briser – to break conjuger – to conjugate dessiner – to draw
arriver – to arrive bronzer – to tan continuer – to continue détester – to hate
assister (à) – to attend brosser – to brush copier – to copy discuter – to discuss
attirer – to attract casser – to break corriger – to correct donner – to give
échanger – to exchange laisser – to leave/ let préférer – to prefer
écouter – to listen to lancer – to throw présenter – to introduce
éffacer – to erase manger – to eat prier – to pray
embrasser – to kiss marcher – to walk raconter – to tell/retell
emprunter – to borrow mériter – to merit/deserve regarder – to watch/look at
enseigner – to teach monter – to go up/climb rencontrer – to meet
entrer – to enter nager – to swim rentrer – to come back home
essayer – to try nommer – to name/nominate rester – to stay/remain
étaler – to spread observer – to observe sauter – to jump/skip
étudier – to study ordonner – to order/organize sonner – to ring
éviter – to avoid organiser – to organise surfer – to surf
expliquer – to explain oublier – to forget téléphoner – to phone
explorer – to explore parler – to talk/speak tirer – to pull/shoot
fermer - to shut partager – to share tomber – to fall
fumer – to smoke participer – to participate travailler – to work
gâcher – to ruin patiner – to skate tricher – to cheat
garder – to keep /look after penser – to think trouver – to find
habiter – to live (place) pleurer – to cry utiliser – to use/utilise
inviter – to invite porter – to wear voler – to fly/steal
interviewer – to interview pratiquer – to practise voyager – to travel
jouer – to play préparer – to prepare ______
attendre – to wait for accomplir – to accomplish pourrir – to rot
défendre – to defend agir – to act/behave punir – to punish
descendre – to come/go down applaudir – to applaud raccourcir – to shorten
détendre – to lay down/relax atterir – to land ralentir – to slow down
entendre – to hear bâtir – to build réfléchir – to think/reflect
fendre – to split blanchir – to turn white refroidir – to cool
fondre – to melt choisir – to choose réjouir – to delight/thrill
interrompre – to interrupt désobeir – to disobey remplir – to fill
mordre – to bite embellir – to beautify réunir – to unite
pendre – to hang établir – to establish réussir – to succeed
perdre – to lose finir – to finish rougir – to blush/go red
pondre – to lay an egg grandir – to grow up saisir – to seize
rendre – to give back grossir – to grow wider vieillir – to grow old
répandre – to spread maigrir – to lose wt. vomir – throw up
répondre – to answer nourrir – to feed/nourish ______
tendre – to set/tighten/stretch obéir – to obey ______
vendre – to sell polir – to polish ______
LES VERBES PRONOMINAUX / REFLEXIVE VERBS
Reflexive verbs are where the SUBJECT and OBJECT are the SAME, or, if you like, the action “reflects back” onto the subject. They always have an OBJECT PRONOUN that refers to the same person or thing.
Most often reflexive verbs deal with you daily routine of getting ready.
SUBJECT / REFLEXIVE PRONOUN / VERBJe / me , m’ / réveille
Tu / te , t’ / habilles
Il, Elle, Qui, On / se, s’ / blesse
Nous / nous / maquillons
Vous / vous / mariez
Ils, Elles / se , s’ / dépêchent
Exemple: Je me reveille tôt le matin. I wake up early in the morning.
Nous nous habillons en jeans aujourd’hui. We are dressing in jeans today.
Vous vous maquillez beaucoup – You put on a lot of make-up (you make yourself up)
Tu ne te reposes pas la fin de semaine. You don’t relax on the weekend.
Ils ne se rasent plus. He no longer shaves.
Common reflexive verbs:
s’amuser – to have fun se dépêcher – to hurry up se lever – to get up
s’asseoir – to sit down se déshabiller – to get undressed se maquiller – to put on make-up
se baigner – to bathe/swim s’endormir(irrég) – to fall asleep se peigner – to comb (les cheveux)
se brosser – to brush (les dents) se fâcher – to get angry se raser – to shave
se coucher – to lie down s’habiller – to get dressed se reposer – to relax
se demander – to wonder se laver – to wash oneself
LES VERBES IRRÉGULIERS
There are also many irregular verbs. Here again you need to memorize their individual forms. Note that other than AVOIR certain letters at the end of the verb are common with specific subjects.
JE and TU end with either S or X. (they will never have a T as an ending in the present tense) IL, ELLE, QUI and ON often end with a T. (They will never have an S or X )
SUBJECTPRONOUN / AVOIR
To have / êTRE
To be / ALLER
To go / FAIRE
To do/make / VENIR
To come
Je, J’ / ai / suis / vais / fais / viens
Tu / as / es / vas / fais / viens
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / a / est / va / fait / vient
Nous / avons / sommes / allons / faisons / venons
Vous / avez / êtes / allez / faites / venez
Ils, Elles / ont / sont / vont / font / viennent
SUJECT
PRONOUN / VOULOIR
To want / POUVOIR –can
May,to be able to / PARTIR
To leave / SORTIR to exit
To go out,date / VOIR
To see
Je, J’ / veux / peux / pars / sors / vois
Tu / veux / peux / pars / sors / vois
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / veut / peut / part / sort / voit
Nous / voulons / pouvons / partons / sortons / voyons
Vous / voulez / pouvez / partez / sortez / voyez
Ils, Elles / veulent / peuvent / partent / sortent / voient
SUJECT
PRONOUN / SAVOIR
To know something / CONNAîTRE
To know someone/
To be acquainted with / DEVOIR –
to owe
must, to have to / PRENDRE
To take / COMPRENDRE
To understand
comprehend
Je, J’ / sais / connais / dois / prends / comprends
Tu / sais / connais / dois / prends / comprends
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / sait / connaît / doit / prend / comprend
Nous / savons / connaissons / devons / prenons / comprenons
Vous / savez / connaissez / devez / prenez / comprenez
Ils, Elles / savent / connaissent / doivent / prennent / comprennent
SUJECT
PRONOUN / LIRE
To read / ÉCRIRE
To write / DIRE
To say/tell / VIVRE
To live / BOIRE
To drink
Je, J’ / lis / écris / dis / vis / bois
Tu / lis / écris / dis / vis / bois
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / lit / écrit / dit / vit / boit
Nous / lisons / écrivons / disons / vivons / buvons
Vous / lisez / écrivez / dites / vivez / buvez
Ils, Elles / lisent / écrivent / disent / vivent / boivent
SUJECT
PRONOUN / CROIRE
To believe / METTRE
To put/place / ACHETER
To buy / RÉPÉTER
To repeat / ENVOYER
To send
Je, J’ / crois / mets / achète / répète / envoie
Tu / crois / mets / achètes / répètes / envoies
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / croit / met / achète / répète / envoie
Nous / croyons / mettons / achetons / répétons / envoyons
Vous / croyez / mettez / achetez / répétez / envoyez
Ils, Elles / croient / mettent / achètent / répètent / envoient
SUJECT
PRONOUN / APPELER
To call / COURIR
To run / MOURIR
To die / NAîTRE
To be born / OUVRIR
To open
Je, J’ / appelle / cours / meurs / nais / ouvre
Tu / appelles / cours / meurs / nais / ouvres
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / appelle / court / meurt / naît / ouvre
Nous / appelons / courons / mourons / naissons / ouvrons
Vous / appelez / courez / mourez / naissez / ouvrez
Ils, Elles / appellent / courent / meurent / naissent / ouvrent
SUJECT
PRONOUN / RECEVOIR
To receive / RIRE
To laugh / SUIVRE
To follow / SE LEVER
To get up / S’ENDORMIR
To fall asleep
Je, J’ / reçois / ris / suis / me lève / m’endors
Tu / reçois / ris / suis / te lèves / t’endors
Il, Elle, Qui?, On / reçoit / rit / suit / se lève / s’endort
Nous / recevons / rions / suivons / nous levons / nous endormons
Vous / recevez / riez / suivez / vous levez / vous endormez
Ils, Elles / reçoivent / rient / suivent / se lèvent / s’endorment
L’IMPÉRATIF
The imperative is used to give commands. Use the TU, NOUS, and VOUS form of the verb in the present tense. Do not write the tu, nous,and vous. They are implied in the verb.
“ER” / “RE” / “IR”Écoute! – Listen! (s) / Attends! -Wait! (s) / Choisis! – Choose! (s)
Écoutons – Let’s Listen / Attendons! – Let’s wait / Choisissons! – Let’s choose
Écoutez! – Listen! (pl) / Attendez! – Wait! / Choisissez! – Choose!
NOTES:
1. For and “ER” verb, drop the s with the tu form. Bring back the s if Y and En
follow the verb.
Ex. Chante ! Sing!
Choisis maintenant! Choose now!
Descends tout de suite! Come down immediately!
Amusons – nous! Let’s have fun! (Reflexive uses the following pronoun toi,nous,vous)
Va au Mexique! Go to Mexico!
Vas – y! Go there!
Écoute des chansons! Listen to some songs!
Écoutes-en! Listen to some! N’en écoute pas!
2. The negative will still be found surrounding the verb.
Ex. Travaille fort! Work hard!
Ne travaille pas fort! Don’t work hard!
Finissons nos devoirs! Let’s finish our homework!
Ne finissons pas nos devoirs! Let’s not finish our homework!
Attendez les enfants! Wait for the kids!
N’attendez pas les enfants! Don’t wait for the kids
3. The D.O.P placement changes in the affirmative but stays the same in the negative.
Ex. Regarde-moi! Watch me!
Ne me regarde pas! Don’t watch me!
Prends-les! Take them!
Ne les prends pas!
Informons-nous! Lets inform ourselves ( lets get informed)
Ne nous informons pas! Let’s not inform ourselves
Choisis-la. Choose it! Choose her!
Ne la choisis pas. Don’t choose it! Don’t choose her!
There are only 4 exceptions.
ÊTRE /AVOIR
/ SAVOIR / VOULOIR *Sois! / aie! / sache! / Veuille!
Soyons! / ayons! / sachons! / Voulons!
Soyez! / ayez! / sachez! / Veuillez!
*Vouloir is more of a request than a command. Ex. Veuillez répondre le plus tôt possible. Would you please reply as soon as possible!
LE PASSÉ- The past
This tense is used to indicate an action has occurred in the past. There are different kinds of past tense.
A. Le Passé Récent: the immediate past. The immediate past is used to indicate an
action has just happened.
VENIR + DE/D’ + INFINITFExample:
Vous travaillez au restaurant. Vous venez de travailler au restaurant.
You work at the restaurant. You just worked at the restaurant.
Il vient de finir ses devoirs. He just finished his homework.
Nous venons de faire le dîner. We just made dinner.
Je ne viens pas de prendre l’argent. I just did not take the money.
Elles ne viennent pas de faire le lavage. They just did not do the washing.
Est-ce que tu viens de voir tes amis? Did you just see your friends?
Oui, je viens de voir mes amis. Yes, I just saw my friends.
Non, je ne viens pas de voir mes amis. No, I did not just see my friends.
B. Le Passé Composé – The composed past. The passé composé is used to indicate
an action has taken place in the past. That action is completed (done and over with) It is a snap
shot. Words such as hier (yesterday), la semaine passée (last week),
l’année passée (last year),le mois passé ( last month),lundi passé ( last Monday) or
any other words in front of passé(e) uses the passé composé to indicate an action in the past.
To write the passé composé one uses and auxiliary verb (the helping verb) in the present tense
and a past participle. ( the past participle is equivalent to ED in English) ie. Talked