craindre / peindre / joindre
The Craindre/peindre/joindre Verb Group
Verbs like craindre (to fear), peindre (to paint), and joindre (to join) follow a unique pattern: the 'd' disappears in all forms, and a 'gn' appears in the plural forms (nous, vous, ils/elles).
How It Works
While often called 'irregular,' these verbs are actually very consistent within their own group. They never keep the -d- from the infinitive in the present tense.
1. The Singular Forms (je, tu, il/elle/on):
Drop the -dre and add -s, -s, -t. The vowel remains nasal (pronounced like 'un' or 'in').
- Je crains
- Tu peins
- Il joint
2. The Plural Forms (nous, vous, ils/elles):
The -n- changes to -gn- (pronounced like the 'ny' in 'onion'). The vowel is no longer nasal.
- Nous craignons
- Vous peignez
- Ils joignent
3. Common Verbs in this Group:
- -aindre: craindre (to fear), se plaindre (to complain)
- -eindre: peindre (to paint), éteindre (to turn off/extinguish), atteindre (to reach)
- -oindre: joindre (to join), rejoindre (to meet up)
Examples (5)
- Je peins un tableau.
I am painting a picture.
Word by Word: I paint a picture.
In the singular 'je' form, the 'd' is dropped and we add -s.
- Nous craignons le froid.
We fear the cold.
Word by Word: We fear the cold.
In the 'nous' form, the 'n' becomes 'gn' and the vowel is no longer nasal.
- Ils éteignent la lumière.
They are turning off the light.
Word by Word: They extinguish the light.
The 'ils' form uses the 'gn' stem followed by the silent -ent ending.
- Tu te plains toujours !
You are always complaining!
Word by Word: You yourself complain always!
'Se plaindre' is a common reflexive verb in this group.
- Elle joint les deux bouts.
She makes ends meet.
Word by Word: She joins the two ends.
The 'il/elle' form ends in -t.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the 'd' in the conjugation.
Je joinds mes amis.Je joins mes amis.Unlike regular -re verbs like 'vendre', the 'd' in this group is always dropped in the present tense.
Using the singular stem for plural forms.
Nous peinons le mur.Nous peignons le mur.You must use the 'gn' stem for all plural forms (nous, vous, ils/elles).
Confusing the past participle.
J'ai peindu.J'ai peint.The past participles for this group always end in -t (craint, peint, joint), never -u.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the craindre/peindre/joindre group, you first need a foundation in regular -re verb endings. You must also be familiar with plural subject pronouns, as these verbs undergo a significant stem change (dropping the 'd' and adding 'gn') when moving from singular to plural forms.
- Regular -re verb conjugation
The craindre/peindre/joindre group is a sub-category of -re verbs, sharing similar singular endings (-s, -s, -t) but requiring a specific stem change.
Level 1 - nousFirst-person Plural Nous
Understanding the first-person plural is essential because this verb group introduces a unique 'gn' spelling change specifically in the plural forms.
Level 1 - ils / ellesThird-person Plural Ils and Elles
The third-person plural is necessary to demonstrate the 'gn' stem change and the standard -ent ending applied to this irregular group.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- venirIrregular Verb Venir (To Come)
Learners often confuse these because of the similar 'in' spelling, but 'venir' conjugates differently in the plural (venons vs craignons).
Level 1 - Pronominal verbs in the present
'Se plaindre' (to complain) is one of the most common verbs in this group and requires reflexive pronouns.
Level 2 - Irregular past participle forms
Verbs in this group have irregular past participles ending in -t (e.g., peint, éteint).
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice craindre / peindre / joindre in Bubblegum
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