A-level French/Verbs

A verb is a word used to describe something that happened, such as an action or state of being.

Infinitive

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

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

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)