How to Learn to Conjugate French Verbs

Conjugation in the Present Tense

• 1

  Identify the verb you would like to use. If you have chosen a verb that, in its infinitive form, ends in -er, remove the -er and add the appropriate endings as follows:

  Example: imaginer (to imagine)

  je imagine

  tu imagines

  il/elle imagine

  nous imaginons

  vous imaginez

  ils/elles imaginent

• 2

  Choose a verb that ends in -ir. Remove the -ir from the end of the verb and conjugate as follows:

  Example: maintenir (to maintain)

  je maintiens

  tu maintiens

  il/elle maintient

  nous maintenons

  vous maintenez

  ils maintiennent

• 3

  Choose a verb that ends in -re. Remove the -re from the end of the verb and conjugate as follows:

  Example: astreindre (to compel, force)

  j' astreins

  tu astreins

  il/elle astreint

  nous astreignons

  vous astreignez

  ils astreignent

• 4

  Be mindful of the fact that there are some irregular verbs in the French language that have individualized conjugations. For example:

  avoir (to have)

  j' ai

  tu as

  il/elle a

  nous avons

  vous avez

  ils/elles ont