Conjugating RE Verbs

Two weeks ago, we learned how to conjugate ER verbs in the present tense. Last week we learned how to conjugate IR verbs. This week it’s the last of the three main verb groups – RE verbs. RE verbs are the least common of the three regular verb groups, but they’re still important.

 Our pattern:

 

That’s it. Pretty simple, right? The second column is exactly like the second column in our ER verb pattern. Remember?

 And the first column is pretty simple too. Just remember – you drop the –re from the il/elle form and you add nothing.

 So, let’s take a common example verb:

 

If you know how to conjugate ER, IR, and RE verbs – you know a lot of the everyday (and a lot of the not-so-everyday) verbs.  See? Verb conjugation isn’t so tricky after all.

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Conjugating IR Verbs

Last week we looked at conjugating the largest group of regular French verbs in this post about the basics of verb conjugation and -ER verbs. Today we'll take a quick look at conjugating the second most common group of regular verbs -IR verbs.

The pattern for -ir verbs is pretty simple, but the endings are a little longer than they are for -er verbs. It always makes me think a little of the spelling of Mississippi – M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I!

-IR verb pattern, present tense:

So, to conjugate -ir verbs in the present tense, just remove the ending (-ir) from the infinitive and add the appropriate conjugated ending. Let's take a common -ir verb as an example.

Pretty simple, right? And now you know how to conjugate the two biggest groups of French verbs in the present tense! Not bad!

While they follow this rule, regular -ir verbs which already have an "s" in them tend to throw off students. Verbs like "choisir".

Don't drop the 's' from the stem! Even in the second column.

 

Ents and Entwives

A final word about conjugating regular ER verbs in the present tense.

Remember this post about modal verbs and the boot? ER verbs are not boot verbs, but I often think of them that way because everything inside the boot is pronounced the same way.

Yes, even the ils/elles conjugation. Never pronounce the "-ent" ending in a conjugated verb. The "-ent" might affect how the letters before it are pronounced, but the "-ent" itself is never pronounced.

 

Je parle        Nous parlons
Tu parles    Vous parlez
Elle parle    Ils parlent

Yes, that's right. "Parle", "parles", and "parlent" are all pronounced exactly the same way. Fight the urge to say "parl-ant." You can beat this – I know you can.

That said, not every "-ent" is silent. Only the "-ent" ending of a conjugated verb. If the "ent" is part of the stem (or "radical") of the verb, or if you find "-ent" at the end of a word that is not a verb – it's fair game. Go ahead and pronounce that sucker. (For example: un accident, un élément, un tempérament.)

And I'm sorry, but just like in the Lord of the Rings, there are no Entwives here. Only -ents.

 

What’s a kinnamon?

I’ve talked a lot about patterns this week, and guess what? I’m not done.  Take a look at these groups of English words:

Do you see any patterns? Look again. “C” and “g” – how are they pronounced and why are they pronounced that way?

 Now look at these English words:

What is the difference between this group and the first group? Come up with a rule and write it down. Seriously – don’t look online, don’t ask someone else, don’t scroll to the rest of the post until you have a rule.

 …

                            …

                                                            …

Now I’ve got some clumps of French words for you. How do you think each of these sets of words is pronounced?

 

This is a rare instance where French and English have the same rule. (Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to this rule, but it’s helpful nonetheless.)

Last chance! If you don’t have your own rule – come up with it now! The answer follows…

* * *

When ‘c’ or ‘g’ are followed by ‘a’, ‘o’, or ‘u’ they are hard. When they are followed by “e” or “i" they are soft.

* * *

Okay, now remember how we conjugate –ER verbs? What will happen when we conjugate "manger" – "to eat"? If we follow the rules for ER verbs without making any changes then the "nous" form will be "mangons". According to our new pronunciation rules, how will this word be pronounced? Does that sound good?

Nope.

This is fixed by simply adding an "e". "Nous mangeons."

Je mange             Nous mangeons

Tu manges          Vous mangez

Il mange               Elles mangent

 
Any regular –er verb with a 'g' at the end of the stem will follow this rule in the present tense (e.g.: nager = to swim, nous nageons.)

Commencer (to start) has the same problem, but it is not solved by adding an 'e'. Instead of adding an 'e', simply add une cedille. You've seen them plenty of times (ça, français).

Je commence                    Nous commençons

Tu commences                 Vous commencez

Il commence                      Ils commencent

 

Every regular -er verb with a stem that ends in "c" will work this way in the present tense (e.g. placer = to place, nous plaçons.)

What did I tell you? It's all about the patterns.

(Frustrated when you need to type a letter with an accent? To type a c with une cedille in Word, just hold down the Ctrl key while you hit the ' , ' key and then type ' c '. It will appear with the accent. Voilà !)