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Conjugating Present Tense Regular French -ir Verbs

You will learn in this learning tool how to conjugate a present tense regular French -ir verb. These are verbs, that in their infinitive form, end in -ir. You will be presented with all the information you need to accomplish this task.

Engaging Questions

  • What does it mean to say a verb is in its infinitive form?

  • How do we translate a verb in the present tense from French back into English ?

Teacher Goals

  • Students will be able to conjugate a regular French -ir verb.

Required Resources

  • A French grammar book

    Any text being used for a French class will have a list of these verbs.

  • Conjugating Present Tense Regular French -er Verbs

    Use the above ALCA lesson by Gregory Perkins to learn how to conjugate present tense regular French -er verbs.

Optional Resources

  • Some common -ir verbs

    • btir = to build
    • choisir = to choose
    • finir = to finish
    • obir = to obey
    • punir = to punish
    • remplir = to fill
    • russir = to succeed

Steps

  1. An infinitive; a verb before conjugation.

    Before we conjugate any verb in French it is said to be in its infinitive form.
    Before we conjugate any verb in French, it is said to be in its infinitive form. The infinitive form simply means that it is in its "to" form. Some examples are the following: finir = to finish; obir = to obey; punir = to punish. As we would never say, "I to obey," we must conjugate so that we have "I obey."

  2. -ir verb endings

    The endings of the present tense (le present) of -ir verbs are: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, issent.

    Present Tense Endings
    Person Singular Plural
    First add -is add issons
    Second add -is add -issez
    Third add -it add -issent

    Example:

    Conjugation of finir (to finish)
    Person Singular Plural
    First Je finis nous finissons
    Second tu finis vous finissez
    Third il/elle finit ils/elles finissent

  3. Translation of regular, present tense -ir verbs

    French -ir verbs can be translated in three ways. For example, "finir" (to finish), when conjugated, can mean: I finish; I am finishing; or I do finish.

  4. Third person singular and plural pronouns

    The pronouns "il," "elle," "ils", and "elles" refer to both persons and things. "Il" is the equivalent of "he" or "it" and "elle" is the equivalent of "she" or "it."

    For example, a car (une voiture) uses the subject pronoun "elle" (she) because it is a feminine noun. And, a book (un livre) uses the subject pronoun "il" (he) because it is a masculine noun.

    To summarize two or more nouns of different genders, the masculine, 3d person, subject pronoun, "ils," is used. For example, a group of three girls and one boy when being refered to as "they" would use "ils" because there are two genders, male and female.

Teacher Notes

  • Students will learn how to conjugate a regular French -ir verb. They will read the instructions and then show through exercises that they know how to conjugate.

  • Duration: 45 minutes.

Learner Notes

  • You will learn how to conjugate a regular French -ir verb. You will read the instructions and then show through exercises that you know how to conjugate.

Mentor Notes

  • Your son/daughter will learn how to conjugate a regular French -ir verb. They will read the instructions and then show through exercises that they know how to conjugate.

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