Learn French Language Guide - Learn French Grammar

How to Conjugate IR Verbs in French

The French verbs of the second group (all the verbs in this group end in –ir…but be careful, not all -ir verbs belong to this group) follow conjugation rules very similar to those used for the first group, -er verbs.  Once you’ve mastered the first group, the second should come easily.

Conjugation Rules:

Step 1:  Take the French verb that ends in –ir (e.g. faiblir/to dirty).  Remove the –ir ending from the infinitive form. This gives you the essential root we’ll be using to conjugate. Do this for all French verbs in this group.  In this case, the root would be [faibl].

Step 2:  Add the ending that corresponds to the appropriate French tense and personal pronoun. More language legos!

† All tenses of the subjunctive are introduced by a “que” conjunction (e.g. que tu finisses ton repas/that you finish your meal)

* Infinitif, participe présent and Participe passé have no “person” in the sense that they are impersonal.  The participe passé might be modified according to the auxiliary used, but that’s another lesson.  For now think of it as a root that can be used to conjugate other tenses.

The above cover the simple tenses of the second group of French verbs. The temps composés (composed tenses) make use of helper verbs and will be covered later.

Examples:

# Présent:  Il nourrit les cochons / He feeds the pigs

# Imparfait:  Les biches (elles) bondissaient par dessus la haie / The does were jumping over the hedge

# Passé Simple:  Nous rougîmes de honte  / We became red from shame

# Futur Simple:  Je remplirai la bassine d’eau / I will fill the tub with water

# Subjonctif Présent:  Il faut que vous choisissiez  le bon médecin / You must choose the right doctor

# Subjonctif Imparfait:  Avant qu’ils ne démolissent le mur,  il faut qu’ils obtennient un permis / Before they demolish the wall, they must obtain a permit

# Impératif:  Obéissez! / Obey!

# Infinitif:  La colère le fait pâlir / Anger makes him blanch

# Participe Présent:  Le lionceau a un appétit grandissant / The lion cub has a growing appetite.

# Participe Passé:  Elle a maigri en faisant de l’exercice / She got thinner by exercizing