A-level French/Verbs
A verb is a word used to describe something that happened, such as an action or state of being.
Infinitive[edit | edit source]
The infinite is a verb without a subject or tense. In English, it is usually "to _____". In French, all infinitives end in -er, -ir, or -re.
- parler (to talk)
- finir (to finish)
- entendre (to hear)
Most verbs are -er verbs. Many verbs that end in -er end in -ate in English (for example, the verb to donate is "donner"). Many verbs that end in -ir end in -ish in English (for example, the verb finir means to finish).
The infinitive is used in certain phrases in both English and French.
Conjugating Verbs[edit | edit source]
To conjugate a verb means to change it so it can be used with a particular tense and subject. In French, most verbs are conjugated by taking off the -er, -ir, and -re and adding certain endings depending on the tense. However, some verbs do not work like and are irregular verbs.
Common irregular verbs[edit | edit source]
Here are twenty verbs that are used a lot, but are not formed like regular -er, -ir, or -re verbs:
- aller (to go)
- avoir (to have)
- boire (to drink)
- connaître (to know)
- courir (to run)
- devoir (to have to)
- dire (to say, to tell)
- dormir (to sleep)
- écrire (to write)
- être (to be)
- faire (to do, to make)
- lire (to read)
- mentir (to lie)
- mettre (to put, to turn on)
- mourir (to die)
- pouvoir (to be able to, can, may)
- prendre (to take)
- recevoir (to receive)
- savoir (to know)
- venir (to come)
- voir (to see)
- vouloir (to want, to wish)