Present Tense: Irregular Verbs in French

In French, irregular verbs (les verbes irréguliers) do not follow the standard conjugation patterns of regular verbs. These verbs are essential because they are commonly used in everyday speech and writing. Although their conjugations must be memorized individually, they form the backbone of the French language.

1. What Makes a Verb Irregular?

Irregular verbs do not follow the regular conjugation rules of -ER, -IR, or -RE verbs. Their stems and/or endings may vary depending on the verb and subject pronoun.

2. Common Irregular Verbs in French

Here are some of the most frequently used irregular verbs in the present tense:

Être (to be)

Examples:

• Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.)
• Ils sont à la maison. (They are at home.)

Avoir (to have)

Examples:

• Tu as un chien. (You have a dog.)
• Nous avons faim. (We are hungry.)

Aller (to go)

Examples:

• Je vais à l’école. (I am going to school.)
• Vous allez au marché. (You are going to the market.)

Faire (to do, to make)

Examples:

• Elle fait un gâteau. (She is making a cake.)
• Nous faisons nos devoirs. (We are doing our homework.)

Venir (to come)

Examples:

• Ils viennent avec nous. (They are coming with us.)
• Je viens de Paris. (I come from Paris.)

3. Other Notable Irregular Verbs

1. Prendre (to take): je prends, tu prends, il prend, nous prenons, vous prenez, ils prennent
2. Pouvoir (can, to be able to): je peux, tu peux, il peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils peuvent
3. Vouloir (to want): je veux, tu veux, il veut, nous voulons, vous voulez, ils veulent
4. Savoir (to know a fact): je sais, tu sais, il sait, nous savons, vous savez, ils savent

4. Tips for Learning Irregular Verbs

1. Memorize Common Irregular Verbs First: Focus on verbs like être, avoir, and aller, as they are used frequently.
2. Practice in Context: Use sentences to reinforce conjugations and meanings.
3. Group Verbs with Similar Patterns: Some irregular verbs share similar conjugations, such as venir and tenir.
4. Use Flashcards: Test yourself regularly to remember irregular forms.
5. Practice Verb Tables: Writing out full conjugation tables can help you internalize patterns.

Examples in Sentences

• Je vais au cinéma. (I am going to the cinema.)
• Nous avons un problème. (We have a problem.)
• Ils font du sport tous les jours. (They exercise every day.)
• Tu veux un café ? (Do you want a coffee?)

Mastering irregular verbs in the present tense is crucial for fluent communication in French, as they are the foundation of many expressions and conversations.

You can take the multiple-choice quiz.

Conjugation of important French irregular verbs in present tense.