Regular -re verb conjugation

Level 1

Regular -re verbs (like vendre) form the smallest regular group in French. To conjugate them, drop the -re to find the stem, then add: -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent. Note that many common -re verbs are irregular and require separate study.

How It Works

To conjugate a regular -re verb in the present tense, follow these steps:

1. Find the stem: Remove the -re from the infinitive.
Example: vendre (to sell) → vend-

2. Add the endings:

  • je: add -s (je vends)
  • tu: add -s (tu vends)
  • il / elle / on: add -t, BUT drop it if the stem ends in d, t, or c (il vend, il rompt)
  • nous: add -ons (nous vendons)
  • vous: add -ez (vous vendez)
  • ils / elles: add -ent (ils vendent)

Important Note: The verb prendre and its derivatives (like apprendre) are irregular. While they look like regular -re verbs, they drop the 'd' in all plural forms (nous prenons).

Note on Elision: When using je, it becomes j' if the verb starts with a vowel or a silent 'h' (e.g., j'attends).

Pronunciation Tip: In the singular forms (je, tu, il), the final consonant of the stem is silent. In the plural forms, that consonant is pronounced because it is followed by a vowel-based ending.

Examples (5)

  1. Je vends mon vélo.

    I am selling my bike.

    Word by Word: I sell my bike.

    The stem is 'vend-'. We add '-s' for the 'je' form.

  2. Elle attend le train.

    She is waiting for the train.

    Word by Word: She waits the train.

    For 'elle', no ending is added to the stem 'attend-'.

  3. Nous répondons à la question.

    We are answering the question.

    Word by Word: We answer to the question.

    The plural ending '-ons' is added to the stem 'répond-'.

  4. Est-ce que vous entendez ce bruit ?

    Do you hear that noise?

    Word by Word: Is it that you hear this noise?

    The 'vous' form uses the '-ez' ending.

  5. Ils perdent toujours leurs clés.

    They always lose their keys.

    Word by Word: They lose always their keys.

    The '-ent' ending is added for 'ils', but it remains silent.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a 't' to the 3rd person singular (il/elle) when the stem ends in 'd'.

    Il vendt sa voiture.
    Il vend sa voiture.

    For verbs like 'vendre', the stem ends in 'd'. Since the rule says to drop the '-t' ending after 'd', 't', or 'c', you add nothing to the stem.

  • Forgetting the 't' for verbs like 'rompre'.

    Il romp le pain.
    Il rompt le pain.

    If the stem does not end in d, t, or c (like 'romp-'), you must add the standard '-t' ending for the third person singular.

  • Applying this pattern to irregular -re verbs like 'prendre'.

    Nous prendons le bus.
    Nous prenons le bus.

    Verbs like prendre are irregular; they drop the 'd' in the plural forms (nous prenons, vous prenez, ils prennent).

How It Connects

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Regular -re verb conjugationLevel 1

Learn This First

To conjugate regular -re verbs, you must first be familiar with French subject pronouns (je, tu, il, etc.) and the general concept of verb conjugation, which is typically introduced through -er verbs. A basic understanding of sentence structure is also necessary to use these verbs in context.

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Words in This Pattern

-re