How to conjugate ‘er’ verbs in French

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How to conjugate “er” verbs in French

The “er” verbs in French are a group of verbs that follow a certain pattern when conjugated in the present tense. In this lesson, we’ll take a closer look at how to conjugate “er” verbs in French and provide plenty of examples to help you get started.

  1. The Present Tense Conjugation of “er” Verbs

In the present tense, “er” verbs are conjugated by removing the “er” from the infinitive form of the verb and adding the appropriate present tense endings. The present tense endings for “er” verbs are:

  • Je (I) : -e
  • Tu (You, informal) : -es
  • Il/Elle/On (He/She/One) : -e
  • Nous (We) : -ons
  • Vous (You, formal) : -ez
  • Ils/Elles (They) : -ent

Here are some examples to help illustrate these endings:

  • Parler (To speak)
    • Je parle (I speak)
    • Tu parles (You speak)
    • Il/Elle/On parle (He/She/One speaks)
    • Nous parlons (We speak)
    • Vous parlez (You speak)
    • Ils/Elles parlent (They speak)
  • Aimer (To love)
    • J’aime (I love)
    • Tu aimes (You love)
    • Il/Elle/On aime (He/She/One loves)
    • Nous aimons (We love)
    • Vous aimez (You love)
    • Ils/Elles aiment (They love)
  • Chanter (To sing)
    • Je chante (I sing)
    • Tu chantes (You sing)
    • Il/Elle/On chante (He/She/One sings)
    • Nous chantons (We sing)
    • Vous chantez (You sing)
    • Ils/Elles chantent (They sing)
  1. Irregular “er” Verbs

While most “er” verbs follow the conjugation pattern outlined above, there are a few irregular verbs that don’t follow this pattern exactly. Here are some examples of irregular “er” verbs and their present tense conjugations:

  • Avoir (To have)
    • J’ai (I have)
    • Tu as (You have)
    • Il/Elle/On a (He/She/One has)
    • Nous avons (We have)
    • Vous avez (You have)
    • Ils/Elles ont (They have)
  • Aller (To go)
    • Je vais (I go)
    • Tu vas (You go)
    • Il/Elle/On va (He/She/One goes)
    • Nous allons (We go)
    • Vous allez (You go)
    • Ils/Elles vont (They go)
  • Être (To be)
    • Je suis (I am)
    • Tu es (You are)
    • Il/Elle/On est (He/She/One is)
    • Nous sommes (We are)
    • Vous êtes (You are)
    • Ils/Elles sont (They are)
  1. Practice Makes Perfect

As with any new language, the key to mastering the conjugation of “er” verbs in French is practice. Try to use the verbs in sentences and practice speaking, writing, and reading them in context. Additionally, you can try making flashcards to help you memorize the different conjugations, or try using online resources such as quizzes and practice exercises.

In conclusion, the “er” verbs in French are a crucial part of the language and understanding how to conjugate them is an important step in your French language learning journey. With the information and examples provided in this lesson, you should now have a good foundation for conjugating “er” verbs in the present tense in French. Keep practicing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – that’s all part of the learning process!

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