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French conjugation is the creation of derived forms of a French verb from its principal parts by inflection. French verbs are conventionally divided into three conjugations (conjugaisons) with the following grouping:
The first two groups follow a regular conjugation, whereas the third group follows an irregular one. The third group is considered a closed-class conjugation form[1], meaning that most new verbs introduced to the French language are of the first group (téléviser, atomiser, radiographier), with the remaining ones being of the second group (alunir).
The verb aller is the only verb ending in -er belonging to the third group.
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There are seven different moods in French conjugation: Indicatif, Subjonctif, conditionnel, impératif, infinitif, participe, and gérondif.
Tenses are described under the mood to which they belong, and they are grouped as follows. An asterisk indicates a simple form. Other tenses are constructed through the use of an auxiliary verb:
Note that some of these tenses are very rarely used in contemporary French. Others, such as the passé simple, the passé antérieur or the imparfait du subjonctif and the plus-que-parfait du subjonctif, are still used, but only in the written language (especially in literature) or in extremely formal speech.
There are two auxiliary verbs in French: avoir (to have) and être (to be), used to conjugate compound tenses according to these rules:
Compound tenses are conjugated with an auxiliary followed by the past participle, ex: j'ai fait (I did), je suis tombé (I fell). When être is used, the participle is inflected according to the gender and number of the subject. The participle is inflected with the use of the verb avoir according to the direct object, but only if the direct object precedes the participle, ex:
As stand-alone verbs, the conjugation of the two auxiliaries is listed in the table below:
This verb has different stems for different tenses. These are imperfect av- /av/; present subjunctive ai- /ɛ/; future and conditional aur- /ɔʁ/; simple past and past subjunctive e- (not pronounced: eus, eusse are pronounced as bare inflections /y, ys/). Although the stem changes, the inflections of these tenses are as a regular -oir verb.
In the simple present, not only are there stem changes, but the inflections are irregular as well:
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple Past | Imperfect | Future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| j' | ai /e/ | eus /y/ | avais /avɛ/ | aurai /ɔʁe/ | aie /ɛ/ | eusse /ys/ | aurais /ɔʁɛ/ | |
| tu | as /a/ | eus /y/ | avais /avɛ/ | auras /ɔʁa/ | aies /ɛ/ | eusses /ys/ | aurais /ɔʁɛ/ | aie* /ɛ/ |
| il/elle | a /a/ | eut /y/ | avait /avɛ/ | aura /ɔʁa/ | ait /ɛ/ | eût /y/ | aurait /ɔʁɛ/ | |
| nous | avons /avɔ̃/ | eûmes /ym/ | avions /avjɔ̃/ | aurons /ɔʁɔ̃/ | ayons /ɛjɔ̃/ | eussions /ysjɔ̃/ | aurions /ɔʁjɔ̃/ | ayons* /ɛjɔ̃/ |
| vous | avez /ave/ | eûtes /yt/ | aviez /avje/ | aurez /ɔʁe/ | ayez /ɛje/ | eussiez /ysje/ | auriez /ɔʁje/ | ayez* /ɛje/ |
| ils/elles | ont /ɔ̃/ | eurent /yʁ/ | avaient /avɛ/ | auront /ɔʁɔ̃/ | aient /ɛ/ | eussent /ys/ | auraient /ɔʁɛ/ | |
* Notice that the imperative form uses the subjunctive conjugation.
Non-finite forms:
Auxiliary verb: avoir
This verb has different stems for different tenses. These are all pronounced differently: imperfect ét- /et/; present subjunctive soi- /swa/; future and conditional ser- /s(ə)ʁ/; simple past and past subjunctive in f- /f/. The inflections of these tenses are as a regular -oir verb (that is, as an -re verb but with the vowel u /y/ in the f- forms). For example, subjunctive soyons, soyez is pronounced with the y sound (/swajɔ̃, swaje/) of other -re and -oir verbs.
In the simple present, not only are there stem changes, but the inflections are irregular as well:
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple past | Imperfect | Future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| je | suis /sɥi/ | fus /fy/ | étais /etɛ/ | serai /s(ə)ʁe/ | sois /swa/ | fusse /fys/ | serais /s(ə)ʁɛ/ | |
| tu | es /ɛ/ | fus /fy/ | étais /etɛ/ | seras /s(ə)ʁa/ | sois /swa/ | fusses /fys/ | serais /s(ə)ʁɛ/ | sois* /swa/ |
| il/elle | est /ɛ/ | fut /fy/ | était /etɛ/ | sera /s(ə)ʁa/ | soit /swa/ | fût /fy/ | serait /s(ə)ʁɛ/ | |
| nous | sommes /sɔm/ | fûmes /fym/ | étions /etjɔ̃/ | serons /səʁɔ̃/ | soyons /swajɔ̃/ | fussions /fysjɔ̃/ | serions /səʁjɔ̃/ | soyons* /swajɔ̃/ |
| vous | êtes /ɛt/ | fûtes /fyt/ | étiez /etje/ | serez /səʁe/ | soyez /swaje/ | fussiez /fysje/ | seriez /səʁje/ | soyez* /swaje/ |
| ils/elles | sont /sɔ̃/ | furent /fyʁ/ | étaient /etɛ/ | seront /s(ə)ʁɔ̃/ | soient /swa/ | fussent /fys/ | seraient /s(ə)ʁɛ/ | |
* The imperative form uses the subjunctive conjugation.
The non-finite forms use the stem êt- /ɛt/ (before a consonant)/ét- /ɛt/ (before a vowel):
Auxiliary verb: avoir
French verbs ending in -er, which comprise the largest class, inflect somewhat differently than other verbs. Between the stem and the inflectional endings that are common across most verbs, there may be a vowel, which in the case of the -er verbs is a silent -e- (in the simple present singular), -é or -ai /e/ (in the past participle and the je form of the simple past), and -a- /a/ (in the rest of simple past singular and in the past subjunctive). In addition, the orthographic -t found in the -ir and -re verbs in the singular of the simple present and past is not found in this conjugation, so that the final consonants are -, -s, - rather than -s, -s, -t.
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple past | Imperfect | Simple future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| je | parl-e /paʁl/ |
parl-ai /paʁle/ |
parl-ais /paʁlɛ/ |
parl-erai /paʁləʁe/ |
parl-e /paʁl/ |
parl-asse /paʁlas/ |
parl-erais /paʁləʁɛ/ |
|
| tu | parl-es /paʁl/ |
parl-as /paʁla/ |
parl-ais /paʁlɛ/ |
parl-eras /paʁləʁa/ |
parl-es /paʁl/ |
parl-asses /paʁlas/ |
parl-erais /paʁləʁɛ/ |
parl-e /paʁl/ |
| il | parl-e /paʁl/ |
parl-a /paʁla/ |
parl-ait /paʁlɛ/ |
parl-era /paʁləʁa/ |
parl-e /paʁl/ |
parl-ât /paʁlɑ/ |
parl-erait /paʁləʁɛ/ |
|
| nous | parl-ons /paʁlɔ̃/ |
parl-âmes /paʁlɑm/ |
parl-ions /paʁljɔ̃/ |
parl-erons /paʁləʁɔ̃/ |
parl-ions /paʁljɔ̃/ |
parl-assions /paʁlasjɔ̃/ |
parl-erions /paʁləʁjɔ̃/ |
parl-ons /paʁlɔ̃/ |
| vous | parl-ez /paʁle/ |
parl-âtes /paʁlɑt/ |
parl-iez /paʁlje/ |
parl-erez /paʁləʁe/ |
parl-iez /paʁlje/ |
parl-assiez /paʁlasje/ |
parl-eriez /paʁləʁje/ |
parl-ez /paʁle/ |
| ils | parl-ent /paʁl/ |
parl-èrent /paʁlɛːʁ/ |
parl-aient /paʁlɛ/ |
parl-eront /paʁləʁɔ̃/ |
parl-ent /paʁl/ |
parl-assent /paʁlas/ |
parl-eraient /paʁləʁɛ/ |
|
Non-finite forms:
Auxiliary verb: avoir (arriver, entrer, monter, passer, rester, rentrer, retourner, and tomber use être)
Exceptional contexts:
Exceptional verbs:
The -ir verbs differ from the -er verbs in the following points:
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple Past | Imperfect | Simple Future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| je | chois-is /ʃwazi/ |
chois-is /ʃwazi/ |
chois-issais /ʃwazisɛ/ |
chois-irai /ʃwaziʁe/ |
chois-isse /ʃwazis/ |
chois-isse /ʃwazis/ |
chois-irais /ʃwaziʁɛ/ |
|
| tu | chois-is /ʃwazi/ |
chois-is /ʃwazi/ |
chois-issais /ʃwazisɛ/ |
chois-iras /ʃwaziʁa/ |
chois-isses /ʃwazis/ |
chois-isses /ʃwazis/ |
chois-irais /ʃwaziʁɛ/ |
chois-is /ʃwazi/ |
| il | chois-it /ʃwazi/ |
chois-it /ʃwazi/ |
chois-issait /ʃwazisɛ/ |
chois-ira /ʃwaziʁa/ |
chois-isse /ʃwazis/ |
chois-ît /ʃwazi/ |
chois-irait /ʃwaziʁɛ/ |
|
| nous | chois-issons /ʃwazisɔ̃/ |
chois-îmes /ʃwazim/ |
chois-issions /ʃwazisjɔ̃/ |
chois-irons /ʃwaziʁɔ̃/ |
chois-issions /ʃwazisjɔ̃/ |
chois-issions /ʃwazisjɔ̃/ |
chois-irions /ʃwaziʁjɔ̃/ |
chois-issons /ʃwazisɔ̃/ |
| vous | chois-issez /ʃwazise/ |
chois-îtes /ʃwazit/ |
chois-issiez /ʃwazisje/ |
chois-irez /ʃwaziʁe/ |
chois-issiez /ʃwazisje/ |
chois-issiez /ʃwazisje/ |
chois-iriez /ʃwaziʁje/ |
chois-issez /ʃwazise/ |
| ils | chois-issent /ʃwazis/ |
chois-irent /ʃwaziʁ/ |
chois-issaient /ʃwazisɛ/ |
chois-iront /ʃwaziʁɔ̃/ |
chois-issent /ʃwazis/ |
chois-issent /ʃwazis/ |
chois-iraient /ʃwaziʁɛ/ |
|
Non-finite forms:
Auxiliary verb: avoir (partir uses être)
The verb haïr loses its dieresis in the singular of the simple present tense (the i loses its trema, reflecting the pronunciation of the initial syllable as a single vowel /ɛ/ rather than the hiatus /ai/): je hais, tu hais, il hait but nous haïssons, vous haïssez, ils haïssent /ʒə ɛ, ty ɛ, il ɛ, nu aisɔ̃, vu aise, il ais/. Hais is as usual used for the imperative. In all other forms, the root is /ai/ (imperfect and present & past subjunctive /ais/-, future and conditional /aiʁ/-).
Most irregular French verbs can be described with seven principal parts. In reality, few if any verbs have separate stems for all seven parts; instead, they tend to "inherit" the same stem as another part. Note that the endings for these verbs are basically the same as for regular -ir verbs; in fact, regular -ir verbs can be fit into this scheme by treating the -iss- variants as different principal parts.
| Principal part | How to get the stem | "Inherited" (regular) value of stem |
|---|---|---|
| infinitive | Remove ending -er, -ir, -oir, -re | — |
| First singular present indicative | Remove ending -s, -e | Infinitive stem |
| First plural present indicative | Remove ending -ons | Infinitive stem |
| Third plural present indicative | Remove ending -ent | First plural present stem |
| (First singular) future | Remove ending -ai | Full infinitive stem (minus any -e) |
| (Masculine singular) past participle | Full word | Infinitive stem, plus -i (plus -u if ends -re) |
| (First singular) simple past | Remove ending -s, -ai | Past participle (minus any -s or -t) |
The following table shows how the paradigm of an irregular verb is constructed from its principal parts. Note that a few verbs construct the present indicative (especially the singular) differently.
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple past | Imperfect | Future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| je | 1S+s | PAST+s | 1P+ais | FUT+ai | 3P+e | PAST+sse | FUT+ais | |
| tu | 1S+s | PAST+s | 1P+ais | FUT+as | 3P+es | PAST+sses | FUT+ais | (same as pres. indic. 3rd. sg. if ends with vowel, else 2nd. sg.) |
| il | 1S+t1 | PAST+t | 1P+ait | FUT+a | 3P+e | PAST+ˆt | FUT+ait | |
| nous | 1P+ons | PAST+ˆmes | 1P+ions | FUT+ons | 1P+ions | PAST+ssions | FUT+ions | (same as pres. indic. 1st pl.) |
| vous | 1P+ez | PAST+ˆtes | 1P+iez | FUT+ez | 1P+iez | PAST+ssiez | FUT+iez | (same as pres. indic. 2nd pl.) |
| ils | 3P+ent | PAST+rent | 1P+aient | FUT+ont | 3P+ent | PAST+ssent | FUT+aient | |
1 The -t is regularly dropped when directly following a d or t (e.g. il vend "he sells", not *il vendt).
Non-finite forms:
The following table gives principal parts for a number of irregular verbs. There are a number of fair-sized groups of verbs that are conjugated alike; these are listed first. There are some additional irregularities in the present indicative, which are listed below. Nearly all irregularities affect the singular, and are purely issues of spelling. (Stems that are irregular in the sense of being unpredictable by the above rules are given in boldface.)
| INF: Infinitive | Meaning | FUT: Future | Present Indicative | PP: Past Participle | PAST: Simple Past | Notes | Similar verbs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1S: 1st Sing (2nd Sing, 3rd Sing) | 1P: 1st Plur (2nd Plur) | 3P: 3rd Plur | |||||||
| (chois-ir | "to choose" | choisir-ai | choisi-s | choisiss-ons | choisiss-ent | choisi | choisi-s) | How a regular -ir verb would be represented by its principal parts | About 300 verbs in -ir |
| vend-re | "to sell" | vendr-ai | vend-s, vend-s, vend1 | vend-ons | vend-ent | vendu | vendi-s | So-called "regular -re" verbs; all end in -dre, but not -indre | attendre "wait", défendre "defend", descendre "go down", entendre "hear", étendre "extend", fondre "melt", pendre "hang", perdre "lose", prétendre "pretend", rendre "return, give back", répandre "spill", répondre "respond", etc. |
| craind-re | "to fear" | craindr-ai | crain-s | craign-ons | craign-ent | craint | craign-is | All verbs in -aindre, -eindre, -oindre, e.g. contraindre "compel", plaindre "complain"; atteindre "reach", ceindre "gird", empreindre "stamp", éteindre "turn off", étreindre "hug", feindre "pretend", geindre "whine", peindre "paint", restreindre "restrict", teindre "dye"; joindre "join", oindre "anoint", poindre "dawn", rejoindre "rejoin" | |
| part-ir | "to leave" | partir-ai | par-s | part-ons | part-ent | parti | parti-s | Sing. pres. indic. stem drops last consonant of basic stem: je pars, dors, mens, sors, sens, sers /ʒ(ə) paʁ, dɔʁ, mɑ̃, sɔʁ, sɑ̃, sɛʁ/ | dormir "sleep", mentir "lie (tell lies)", sentir "feel", servir "serve", sortir "go out" |
| ouvr-ir | "to open" | ouvrir-ai | ouvr-e, ouvr-es, ouvr-e | ouvr-ons | ouvr-ent | ouvert | ouvri-s | Sing. pres. indic. uses endings -e -es -e, as with -er verbs | couvrir "cover", offrir "offer", souffrir "suffer" |
| condui-re | "to lead" | conduir-ai | condui-s | conduis-ons | conduis-ent | conduit | conduisi-s | All verbs in -uire (except nuire), e.g. construire "build", cuire "cook", détruire "destroy", instruire "instruct", produire "produce", traduire "translate" | |
| recev-oir | "to receive" | recevr-ai | reçoi-s | recev-ons | reçoiv-ent | reçu | reçu-s | Other verbs in -cevoir, e.g. apercevoir "perceive", concevoir "conceive", décevoir "disappoint" | |
| envoy-er | "to send" | enverr-ai | envoi-e2 | envoy-ons2 | envoi-ent2 | envoyé | envoy-ai | ||
| voir | "to see" | verr-ai | voi-s | voy-ons | voi-ent2 | vu | vi-s | ||
| dev-oir | "to owe, must" | devr-ai | doi-s | dev-ons | doiv-ent | dû | du-s | Very similar to recevoir, but adds a circumflex to du to distinguish it from the partitive article du - due, dus and dues remain unchanged | |
| pleuv-oir | "to rain" | pleuvr-a | pleu-t | (stem pleuv-) | (stem pleuv-) | plu | plu-t | Impersonal (3rd-singular only) | |
| asseoir | "to sit" | assiér-ai; assoir-ai | assied-s, assied-s, assied;1 assoi-s | assey-ons; assoy-ons | assey-ent; assoi-ent | assis | assi-s | Note double forms, irregular infinitive | |
| cueill-ir /kœjiʁ/ | "to gather" | cueiller-ai | cueill-e, cueill-es, cueill-e | cueill-ons | cueill-ent | cueilli | cueilli-s | Like ouvrir except the future; sing. pres. indic. uses endings -e -es -e, as with -er verbs | |
| ven-ir | "to come" | viendr-ai | vien-s | ven-ons | vienn-ent | venu | vin-s | Note simple past plural vînmes, vîntes, vinrent /vɛ̃m, vɛ̃t, vɛ̃ʁ/ | tenir "hold" |
| mour-ir | "to die" | mourr-ai | meur-s | mour-ons | meur-ent | mort | mouru-s | ||
| cour-ir | "to run" | courr-ai | cour-s | cour-ons | cour-ent | couru | couru-s | ||
| di-re | "to say, tell" | dir-ai | di-s | dis-ons, dites | dis-ent | dit | di-s | Note the 2nd pl. dites | |
| li-re | "to read" | lir-ai | li-s | lis-ons | lis-ent | lu | lu-s | ||
| écri-re | "to write" | écrir-ai | écri-s | écriv-ons | écriv-ent | écrit | écrivi-s | décrire "describe", inscrire "inscribe" | |
| ri-re | "to laugh" | rir-ai | ri-s | ri-ons | ri-ent | ri | ri-s | sourire "smile" | |
| suffi-re | "to suffice" | suffir-ai | suffi-s | suffis-ons | suffis-ent | suffit | suffi-s | confire "pickle", circoncire "circumcise", frire "fry" | |
| boi-re | "to drink" | boir-ai | boi-s | buv-ons | boiv-ent | bu | bu-s | ||
| croi-re | "to believe" | croir-ai | croi-s | croy-ons2 | croi-ent2 | cru | cru-s | ||
| conclu-re | "to conclude" | conclur-ai | conclu-s | conclu-ons | conclu-ent | conclu | conclu-s | Other verbs in -clure | |
| plai-re | "to please" | plair-ai | plai-s, plai-s, plaît | plais-ons | plais-ent | plu | plu-s | Note the 3rd sg. plaît | |
| clo-re | "to close" | clor-ai | clo-s, clo-s, clôt | clos-ons | clos-ent | clos | (missing) | Also missing the imperfect; note the 3rd sg. clôt | |
| prend-re | "to take" | prendr-ai | prend-s, prend-s, prend1 | pren-ons | prenn-ent | pris | pri-s | ||
| viv-re | "to live" | vivr-ai | vi-s | viv-ons | viv-ent | vécu | vécu-s | ||
| suiv-re | "to follow" | suivr-ai | sui-s | suiv-ons | suiv-ent | suivi | suivi-s | ||
| naît-re | "to be born" | naîtr-ai | nai-s, nai-s, naît | naiss-ons | naiss-ent | né | naqui-s | Note the 3rd sg. naît | |
| connaît-re | "to recognize" | connaîtr-ai | connai-s, connai-s, connaît | connaiss-ons | connaiss-ent | connu | connu-s | Note the 3rd sg. connaît | |
| mett-re | "to put" | mettr-ai | met-s, met-s, met1 | mett-ons | mett-ent | mis | mi-s | ||
| batt-re | "to beat" | battr-ai | bat-s, bat-s, bat1 | batt-ons | batt-ent | battu | batti-s | Close to vendre | |
| romp-re | "to break" | rompr-ai | romp-s | romp-ons | romp-ent | rompu | rompi-s | Very close to vendre | |
| vainc-re | "to conquer" | vaincr-ai | vainc-s, vainc-s, vainc | vainqu-ons | vainqu-ent | vaincu | vainqui-s | Essentially same as vendre, except for c/qu variation | |
| coud-re | "to sew" | coudr-ai | coud-s, coud-s, coud1 | cous-ons | cous-ent | cousu | cousu-s | ||
| moud-re | "to grind, mill" | moudr-ai | moud-s, moud-s, moud1 | moul-ons | moul-ent | moulu | moulu-s | ||
| absoud-re | "to absolve" | absoudr-ai | absou-s | absolv-ons | absolv-ent | absous | (missing) | ||
1 The ending -t is regularly dropped when directly following a d or t (e.g. il vend "he sells", not *il vendt).
2 Alternation of -oi- before consonant or unstressed e, -oy- before other vowels is automatic in all verbs.
The following table shows an example paradigm of one of these verbs, recevoir "to receive".
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple Past | Imperfect | Future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| je | reçoi-s /ʁəswa/ |
reçu-s /ʁəsy/ |
recev-ais /ʁəsəvɛ/ |
recevr-ai /ʁəsəvʁe/ |
reçoiv-e /ʁəswav/ |
reçu-sse /ʁəsys/ |
recevr-ais /ʁəsəvʁɛ/ |
|
| tu | reçoi-s /ʁəswa/ |
reçu-s /ʁəsy/ |
recev-ais /ʁəsəvɛ/ |
recevr-as /ʁəsəvʁa/ |
reçoiv-es /ʁəswav/ |
reçu-sses /ʁəsys/ |
recevr-ais /ʁəsəvʁɛ/ |
reçoi-s /ʁəswa/ |
| il | reçoi-t /ʁəswa/ |
reçu-t /ʁəsy/ |
recev-ait /ʁəsəvɛ/ |
recevr-a /ʁəsəvʁa/ |
reçoiv-e /ʁəswav/ |
reçû-t /ʁəsys/ |
recevr-ait /ʁəsəvʁɛ/ |
|
| nous | recev-ons /ʁəsəvɔ̃/ |
reçû-mes /ʁəsym/ |
recev-ions /ʁəsəvjɔ̃/ |
recevr-ons /ʁəsəvʁɔ̃/ |
recev-ions /ʁəsəvjɔ̃/ |
reçu-ssions /ʁəsysjɔ̃/ |
recevr-ions /ʁəsəvʁijɔ̃/ |
recev-ons /ʁəsəvɔ̃/ |
| vous | recev-ez /ʁəsəve/ |
reçû-tes /ʁəsyt/ |
recev-iez /ʁəsəvje/ |
recevr-ez /ʁəsəvʁe/ |
recev-iez /ʁəsəvje/ |
reçu-ssiez /ʁəsysje/ |
recevr-iez /ʁəsəvʁije/ |
recev-ez /ʁəsəve/ |
| ils | reçoiv-ent /ʁəswav/ |
reçu-rent /ʁəsyʁ/ |
recev-aient /ʁəsəvɛ/ |
recevr-ont /ʁəsəvʁɔ̃/ |
reçoiv-ent /ʁəswav/ |
reçu-ssent /ʁəsys/ |
recevr-aient /ʁəsəvʁɛ/ |
|
Non-finite forms:
Nine verbs also have an irregular subjunctive stem, used at least for the singular and third plural of the present subjunctive. These verbs can be said to have 11 principal parts, because the subjunctive stem may or may not be used for the first and second plural present subjunctive, the imperative and/or the present participle, in ways that vary from verb to verb.
The following table shows how the paradigm of an 11-principal-part irregular verb is constructed from its principal parts. Note that these verbs are generally the most irregular verbs in French, and many of them construct the present indicative (especially the singular) in an idiosyncratic fashion. The verb aller also constructs its past participle and simple past differently, according to the endings for -er verbs.
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple past | Imperfect | Future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| je | 1S+s | PAST+s | 1P+ais | FUT+ai | SUBJ+e | PAST+sse | FUT+ais | |
| tu | 1S+s | PAST+s | 1P+ais | FUT+as | SUBJ+es | PAST+sses | FUT+ais | (same as pres. indic. 2nd. sg.; but use 3rd. sg. if ends with vowel) or SUBJ+e |
| il | 1S+t | PAST+t | 1P+ait | FUT+a | SUBJ+e | PAST+ˆt | FUT+ait | |
| nous | 1P+ons | PAST+ˆmes | SUBJ+ions or 1P+ions | FUT+ons | 1Pions | PAST+ssions | FUT+ions | (same as pres. indic. 1st pl.) or SUBJ+ons |
| vous | 1P+ez | PAST+ˆtes | SUBJ+iez or 1P+iez | FUT+ez | 1Piez | PAST+ssiez | FUT+iez | (same as pres. indic. 2nd pl.) or SUBJ+ez |
| ils | 3P+ent | PAST+rent | 1P+aient | FUT+ont | SUBJ+ent | PAST+ssent | FUT+aient | |
Non-finite forms:
The following table gives the principal parts for the 11-principal-part verbs. (Stems that are irregular in the sense of being unpredictable by the above rules are given in boldface.)
| INF: Infinitive | Meaning | FUT: Future | Present Indicative | Present Subjunctive | Imperative | Present Participle | PP: Past Participle | PAST: Simple Past | Notes | Similar verbs | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1S: 1st Sing (2nd Sing, 3rd Sing) | 1P: 1st Plur (2nd Plur) | 3P: 3rd Plur | SUBJ:1st Sing | 1st Plur | |||||||||
| pouv-oir | "to be able" | pourr-ai | peux/puis, peux, peut | pouv-ons | peuv-ent | puiss-e | follows subj. (puiss-ions) | follows indic. | follows 1P (pouv-ant) | pu | pu-s (reg.) | alternate 1st sing. puis required in questions, use elsewhere is mannered; note that old pres. part. puiss-ant is attested as an adjective "powerful" | |
| sav-oir | "to know" | saur-ai | sai-s | sav-ons | sav-ent | sach-e | follows subj. (sach-ions) | follows subj. (sache, sachons, sachez) | follows subj. (sach-ant) | su | su-s | ||
| voul-oir | "to want" | voudr-ai | veux, veux, veut | voul-ons | veul-ent | veuill-e | follows indic. (voul-ions) | follows subj. (veuille, veuillons, veuillez) | follows 1P (voul-ant) | voulu | voulu-s | ||
| val-oir | "to be worth" | vaudr-ai | vaux, vaux, vaut | val-ons | val-ent | vaill-e | follows indic. (val-ions) | follows indic. (vaux, valons, valez) | follows 1P (val-ant) | valu | valu-s | ||
| fall-oir | "to be necessary" | faudr-a | fau-t | (stem fall-) | – | faill-e | – | – | – | fall-u | fallu-t | Impersonal (3rd-singular only) | |
| fai-re | "to do" | fer-ai | fai-s | fais-ons, faites | font | fass-e | follows subj. (fass-ions) | follows indic. | follows 1P (fais-ant) | fait | fi-s | 2nd pl. pres. indic. faites (also in imperative) | défaire, refaire, satisfaire |
| av-oir | "to have" | aur-ai | ai, as, a | av-ons | ont | ai-e, ai-es, ai-t; ai-ent | ay-ons, ay-ez | follows subj. (aie, ayons, ayez) | follows subj. (ay-ant) | eu /y/ | eu-s | ||
| êt-re | "to be" | ser-ai | suis, es, est | sommes, êtes; stem ét- | sont | soi-s, soi-s, soi-t; soi-ent | soy-ons, soy-ez | follows subj. (sois, soyons, soyez) | follows 1P (ét-ant) | été | fu-s | ||
| all-er | "to go" | ir-ai | vais, vas, va | all-ons | vont | aill-e | follows indic. (all-ions) | follows indic. | follows 1P (all-ant) | allé | all-ai | 2nd. sg. imperat. va, but vas-y "go there" | |
The verb aller means "to go" and is sufficiently irregular that it merits listing its conjugation in full. It is the only verb with the first group ending "er" to have an irregular conjugation. It belongs to none of the three sections of the third group, and is often categorized on its own. The verb has different stems for different tenses. These are all pronounced differently: past all- /al/ (simple past, imperfect, past subjunctive); present subjunctive aill- /aj/; conditional and future ir- /iʁ/. The inflections of these tenses are completely regular, and pronounced as in any other -er verb. However, in the simple present, not only are there stem changes, but the inflections are irregular as well:
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Imperative | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simple past | Imperfect | Future | Present | Imperfect | Present | Present | |
| je | vais /vɛ/ | allai /ale/ | allais /alɛ/ | irai /iʁe/ | aille /aj/ | allasse /alas/ | irais /iʁɛ/ | |
| tu | vas /va/ | allas | allais | iras | ailles | allasses | irais | va |
| il/elle | va /va/ | alla | allait | ira | aille | allât | irait | |
| nous | allons /alɔ̃/ | allâmes | allions | irons | allions | allassions | irions | allons |
| vous | allez /ale/ | allâtes | alliez | irez | alliez | allassiez | iriez | allez |
| ils/elles | vont /vɔ̃/ | allèrent | allaient | iront | aillent | allassent | iraient | |
The non-finite forms are all based on all- /al/:
Auxiliary verb: être
| 1st group | 2nd group | 3rd group | 1st group | 2nd group | 3rd group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicatif (Présent) | Subjonctif (Présent) | ||||||||
| je | e1 | is | s (x3) | e5 | e | isse | e | ||
| tu | es | is | s (x3) | es5 | es | isses | es | ||
| il | e | it | t (d,c4) | e5 | e | isse | e | ||
| nous | ons | issons | ons | ons | ions | issions | ions | ||
| vous | ez | issez | ez | ez | iez | issiez | iez | ||
| ils | ent | issent | ent (nt2) | ent | ent | issent | ent | ||
| Indicatif (Imparfait) | Subjonctif (Imparfait) | ||||||||
| je | ais | issais | ais | asse | isse6 | isse6 | usse6 | ||
| tu | ais | issais | ais | asses | isses | isses | usses | ||
| il | ait | issait | ait | ât | ît | ît | ût | ||
| nous | ions | issions | ions | assions | issions | issions | ussions | ||
| vous | iez | issiez | iez | assiez | issiez | issiez | ussiez | ||
| ils | aient | issaient | aient | assent | issent | issent | ussent | ||
| Indicatif (Passé simple) | Impératif (Présent) | ||||||||
| je | ai | is | is6 | us6 | |||||
| tu | as | is | is | us | e | is | s | e5 | |
| il | a | it | it | ut | |||||
| nous | âmes | îmes | îmes | ûmes | ons | issons | ons | ons | |
| vous | âtes | îtes | îtes | ûtes | ez | issez | ez | ez | |
| ils | èrent | irent | irent | urent | |||||
| Indicatif (Futur simple) | Conditionnel (Présent) | ||||||||
| je | erai | irai | rai | erais | irais | rais | |||
| tu | eras | iras | ras | erais | irais | rais | |||
| il | era | ira | ra | erait | irait | rait | |||
| nous | erons | irons | rons | erions | irions | rions | |||
| vous | erez | irez | rez | eriez | iriez | riez | |||
| ils | eront | iront | ront | eraient | iraient | raient | |||
1. In an interrogative sentence, the final e is written é, and is pronounced as an open è [ɛ]. Additionally, the e in je becomes silent. For example: je marche [ʒe maʁʃ] (I walk), marché-je? [maʁʃɛːʒ] (do I walk?)
2. The following verbs have the ending -ont: ils sont (they are), ils ont (they have), ils font (they do), ils vont (they go).
3. only in je/tu peux (I/you can), je/tu veux (I/you want), and je/tu vaux (I am/you are 'worth').
4. Verbs in -dre have a final d for the 3rd singular person, except for those ending in -indre and -soudre which take a final t. The verbs vaincre (defeat) and convaincre (convince) are conjugated as vainc and convainc, respectively, in 3rd singular person.
5. The only verbs having this ending are: assaillir (assail), couvrir (cover), cueillir (pluck), défaillir (default), offrir (offer), ouvrir (open), souffrir (suffer), tressaillir (shiver), and in the imperative only, avoir (have), savoir (know), and vouloir (want).
6. Except for je vins (I came), je tins (I held), etc..., que je vinsse (that I come), que je tinsse (that I hold), etc...