Understanding Regular and Irregular Verbs in French

French verbs come in two types: regular and irregular. Regular verbs follow rules, but irregular verbs don’t. Let’s explore the difference!

Table of Contents

Regular Verbs

In French, regular verbs follow consistent rules for conjugation, making them easier to learn than irregular verbs. Regular verbs can be further categorized into 3 groups based on their verb endings: first group (-er), second group (-ir), and third group (-re). This helps organize verbs and is useful when learning conjugation patterns.

Regular -er verbs:

For -er verbs, the verb stem does not change. To conjugate, you remove the -er ending and add the endings:

-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent

So parler (to speak) becomes:

Je parle,

Tu parles,
Il/elle parle,
Nous parlons,

Vous parlez,
Ils/elles parlent

This same ending pattern applies for all compound tenses like the passé composé, imperfect, and future. For example:

J’ai parlé (I spoke), je parlais (I was speaking), je parlerai (I will speak)

The verb itself does not change, only the endings.

Other regular verbs:

Besides -er verbs, other regular verbs in French include:

-ir verbs like finir (to finish)
-re verbs like attendre (to wait)

-oir verbs like recevoir (to receive)

These follow regular conjugation patterns with their own sets of endings:

-ir: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent

-re: -s, -s, -∅, -ons, -ez, -ent

-oir: -ois, -ois, -oit, -evons, -evez, -oivent

Finir
je finis
tu finis
il/elle/on finit
nous finissons
vous finissez
ils/elles finissent

Attendre
j’attends
tu attends
il/elle/on attend
nous attendons
vous attendez
ils/elles attendent

Recevoir
je reçois
tu reçois
il/elle/on reçoit
nous recevons
vous recevez
ils/elles reçoivent

All regular verbs share the trait of having a constant stem and only changing the endings. This makes memorizing their conjugations much easier.

In summary, understanding the rules for conjugating regular French verbs based on their endings (-er, -ir, -re, -oir) is an essential foundation for mastery of French verbal forms. With regular practice, conjugating these verbs will become second nature.

Irregular Verbs

Unlike regular verbs, irregular verbs in French do not follow standard rules for conjugation. Their endings or stems change unpredictably in certain forms, which must be memorized individually. While there are fewer irregular verbs than regular ones, some of the most common and useful French verbs are irregular.

Common Irregular Verb Changes:

Some patterns do emerge among irregular French verbs that can aid memorization:

Changes to the stem vowel, like ‘e’ to ‘è’ (prendre – to take: je prends) or ‘o’ to ‘eu’ (pouvoir – to be able to: je peux).
Radical changes to the stem, like ‘v’ to ‘f’ (devoir – must: je dois)
Orthographic changes, like adding or removing accents (écrire – to write: j’écris).

Irregular past participles not ending in -é or -i, like ‘fait’ (faire – to do) and ‘vu’ (voir – to see).

Common Irregular Verbs:

The most frequent and important irregular verbs to learn in French include:

Être – to be

Avoir – to have
Aller – to go
Faire – to do/make

Pouvoir – to be able to
Vouloir – to want
Devoir – must

Dire – to say
Lire – to read

These verbs are irregular in multiple forms, so memorizing their full conjugation tables is essential. Pay extra attention to high-use verbs like être, avoir, aller, and faire.

Irregular Verbs in Context:

When learning irregular verbs, practice using them in full sentences and phrases, not just isolated conjugation charts. This reinforces proper context and usage, for example:

Est-ce que je peux aller au cinéma ce soir ? (Can I go to the movies tonight?)
Il a fait ses devoirs hier. (He did his homework yesterday.)

Ils sont allés au musée. (They went to the museum.)

Mastering common irregular verbs takes practice but is crucial for natural French speech and writing. With regular study, you’ll be able to use them confidently.

200 common irregular verbs in French

French Verb	Translation	Present Participle	Past Participle
être	to be	étant	été
avoir	to have	ayant	eu
aller	to go	allant	allé
faire	to do/make	faisant	fait
dire	to say/tell	disant	dit
pouvoir	to be able to	pouvant	pu
vouloir	to want	voulant	voulu
devoir	must/to have to	devant	dû
voir	to see	voyant	vu
venir	to come	venant	venu
prendre	to take	prenant	pris
falloir	to be necessary	fallant	fallu
valoir	to be worth	valant	valu
mettre	to put	mettant	mis
savoir	to know	sachant	su
vouloir	to want	voulant	voulu
pleuvoir	to rain	pleuvant	plu
partir	to leave	partant	parti
lire	to read	lisant	lu
écrire	to write	écrivant	écrit
croître	to grow	croissant	crû
boire	to drink	buvant	bu
croire	to believe	croyant	cru
recevoir	to receive	recevant	reçu
courir	to run	courant	couru
mourir	to die	mourant	mort
naître	to be born	naissant	né
rire	to laugh	riant	ri
suivre	to follow	suivant	suivi
vivre	to live	vivant	vécu
conduire	to drive	conduisant	conduit
craindre	to fear	craignant	craint
parvenir	to attain	parvenant	parvenu
venir	to come	venant	venu
tenir	to hold	tenant	tenu
obtenir	to obtain	obtenant	obtenu
revenir	to come back	revenant	revenu
devenir	to become	devenant	devenu
prévenir	to warn	prévenant	prévenu
souvenir	to remember	souvenant	souvenu
venir	to come	venant	venu
partir	to leave	partant	parti
lire	to read	lisant	lu
écrire	to write	écrivant	écrit
croître	to grow	croissant	crû
boire	to drink	buvant	bu
croire	to believe	croyant	cru
recevoir	to receive	recevant	reçu
courir	to run	courant	couru
mourir	to die	mourant	mort
naître	to be born	naissant	né
rire	to laugh	riant	ri
rire	to laugh	riant	ri
suivre	to follow	suivant	suivi
vivre	to live	vivant	vécu
conduire	to drive	conduisant	conduit
craindre	to fear	craignant	craint
parvenir	to attain	parvenant	parvenu
venir	to come	venant	venu
tenir	to hold	tenant	tenu
obtenir	to obtain	obtenant	obtenu
revenir	to come back	revenant	revenu
devenir	to become	devenant	devenu
prévenir	to warn	prévenant	prévenu
souvenir	to remember	souvenant	souvenu
avenir	future	avenant	advenu
circoncire	to circumcise	circoncisant	circoncis
déchoir	to deteriorate	déchoyant	déchu
enduire	to coat	enduisant	enduit
exclure	to exclude	excluant	exclu
inscrire	to register	inscrivant	inscrit
méconnaître	to fail to recognize	méconnaissant	méconnu
prédire	to predict	prédisant	prédit
réapparaître	to reappear	réapparaissant	réapparu
recroître	to grow again	recroissant	recrû
réélire	to re-elect	réélisant	réélu
renaître	to be reborn	renaissant	re-né
résoudre	to resolve	résolvant	résolu
sourdre	to spring up	sourdant	sursis
transcrire	to transcribe	transcrivant	transcrit
clore	to close	clôtant	clôt
déclore	to hatch	déclôtant	déclôt
accroître	to increase	accroissant	accru
acquérir	to acquire	acquérant	acquis
affaiblir	to weaken	affaiblissant	affaibli
assaillir	to assail	assaillant	assailli
tressaillir	to shiver	tressaillant	tressailli
ouvrir	to open	ouvrant	ouvert
offrir	to offer	offrant	offert
souffrir	to suffer	souffrant	souffert
couvrir	to cover	couvrant	couru
cueillir	to pluck	cueillant	cueilli
vouloir	to want	voulant	voulu
pleuvoir	to rain	pleuvant	plu
pouvoir	to be able to	pouvant	pu
émouvoir	to move	émouvant	ému
voir	to see	voyant	vu
envoyer	to send	envoyant	envoyé
s'asseoir	to sit	s'asseyant	assis
recevoir	to receive	recevant	reçu
devoir	to owe	devant	dû
savoir	to know	sachant	su
valoir	to be worth	valant	valu
vouloir	to want	voulant	voulu
prévoir	to foresee	prévoyant	prévu
pourvoir	to provide	pourvoyant	pourvu
se mouvoir	to move	se mouvant	mouvu
choir	to fall	choyant	chu
échoir	to be due	échoyant	échu
déchoir	to degenerate	déchoyant	déchu
émouvoir	to move	émouvant	ému
promouvoir	to promote	promouvant	promu
se mouvoir	to move	se mouvant	mû
pleuvoir	to rain	pleuvant	plu
apparaître	to appear	apparaissant	apparu
disparaître	to disappear	disparaissant	disparu
paraître	to seem	paraissant	paru
connaître	to know	connaissant	connu
paître	to graze	paissant	paî
repaître	to feast on	repaissant	repaî
surseoir	to suspend	surséant	sursis
choir	to fall	choyant	chu
déchoir	to degenerate	déchoyant	déchu
échoir	to be due	échoyant	échu
lire	to read	lisant	lu
élire	to elect	élisant	élu
relire	to reread	relisant	relu
rire	to laugh	riant	ri
sourire	to smile	souriant	souri
circoncire	to circumcise	circoncisant	circoncis
écrire	to write	écrivant	écrit
décrire	to describe	décrivant	décrit
transcrire	to transcribe	transcrivant	transcrit
maudire	to curse	maudissant	maudit
médire	to slander	médisant	médi
dire	to say	disant	dit
contredire	to contradict	contredisant	contredit
interdire	to forbid	interdisant	interdit
prédire	to predict	prédisant	prédit
redire	to repeat	redisant	redit
croître	to grow	croissant	cru
accroître	to increase	accroissant	accru
décroître	to decrease	décroissant	décru
recroître	to grow again	recroissant	recru
croire	to believe	croyant	cru
décroire	to distrust	décroyant	décrû
mécroire	disbelief	mécroyant	mécrû
acquiescer	to agree	acquiesçant	acquiescé
affluer	to flow	affluant	afflué
influer	to influence	influençant	influencé
affluera	will flow	affluent	afflué
conclure	to conclude	concluant	conclu
exclure	to exclude	excluant	exclu
résoudre	to resolve	résolvant	résolu
dissoudre	to dissolve	dissolvant	dissous
absoudre	to absolve	absolvant	absous
moudre	to grind	moulant	moulu
résoudre	to resolve	résolvant	résolu
fondre	to melt	fondant	fondu
répondre	to answer	répondant	répondu
correspondre	to correspond	correspondant	correspondu
tondre	to shear	tondant	tondu
tordre	to twist	tordant	tordu
plaindre	to pity	plaignant	plaint
se plaindre	to complain	se plaignant	s'est plaint
contraindre	to compel	contraignant	contraint
éteindre	to extinguish	éteignant	éteint
ceindre	to gird	ceignant	cinct
enfreindre	to infringe	enfreignant	enfreint
astreindre	to compel	astreignant	astreint
étreindre	to hug	étreignant	étreint
épreindre	to squeeze	épreignant	épreint
joindre	to join	joignant	joint
adjoindre	to adjoin	adjoignant	adjoint
disjoindre	to separate	disjoignant	disjoint
oindre	to anoint	oignant	oint
poindre	to appear	poignant	poin
rejoindre	to rejoin	rejoignant	rejoint
restreindre	to restrict	restreignant	restreint
peindre	to paint	peignant	peint
empreindre	to stamp	empreignant	empris
emprunter	to borrow	empruntant	emprunté
prêter	to lend	prêtant	prêté
remettre	to hand over	remettant	remis
admettre	to admit	admettant	admis
omettre	to omit	omettant	omis
promettre	to promise	promettant	promis
compromettre	to compromise	compromettant	compromis
transmettre	to transmit	transmettant	transmis
permettre	to allow	permettant	permis
soumettre	to submit	soumettant	soumis
mettre	to put	mettant	mis
démettre	to dismiss	démettant	démis
se méprendre	to misunderstand	se méprenant	s'est mépris
reprendre	to take back	reprenant	repris
surprendre	to surprise	surprenant	surpris
apprendre	to learn	apprenant	appris
entreprendre	to undertake	entreprenant	entrepris
suspendre	to hang up	suspendant	suspendu
tendre	to tend	tendant	tendu
entendre	to hear	entendant	entendu
vendre	to sell	vendant	vendu
mésapprendre	to teach badly	mésapprenant	mésappris
tordre	to twist	tordant	tordu
mordre	to bite	mordant	mordu
tordre	to twist	tordant	tordu
clore	to close	closant	clo
déclore	to hatch	déclorant	déclus
enclore	to enclose	enclosant	enclos
suffire	to be sufficient	suffisant	suffi
confire	to preserve	confisant	confit
circoncire	to circumcise	circoncisant	circoncis
prédire	to predict	prédisant	prédit
dédire	to retract	dédisant	dédit
interdire	to forbid	interdisant	interdit
médire	slander	médisant	médi
dire	to say	disant	dit
contredire	to contradict	contredisant	contredit
maudire	to curse	maudissant	maudit
redire	to repeat	redisant	redit
écrire	to write	écrivant	écrit
décrire	to describe	décrivant	décrit
transcrire	to transcribe	transcrivant	transcrit
inscrire	to register	inscrivant	inscrit

There are more than 200 irregular verbs in French. The list of 200 verbs I provided only covers some of the most common and useful irregular verbs to know.

In total, there are around 400-500 irregular verbs in French, depending on how you count them. This includes:

Verbs with unpredictable conjugation patterns (like être, avoir, faire, etc.)
Verbs with spelling changes or accent additions (like commencer, manger, espérer, etc.)

Verbs with radical stem changes (like prendere, mettre, battre, etc.)
Defective verbs with missing forms (like choir, échoir, etc.)

So the 200 irregular verbs I listed are just a subset of the total irregular verbs in French.

In short, mastering the most common 200 irregular verbs will get you quite far, but there are between 300-400 additional irregular verbs in French you’ll come across. Focus first on the high frequency and high usage verbs. But be prepared to continually learn new irregular verb patterns.

Conclusion

In summary, regular French verbs follow set conjugation patterns for each type (-er, -ir, -re), while irregular verbs have unique conjugations that must be learned individually. Mastering both is key for fluency. With regular practice, you’ll soon be able to identify and conjugate regular and irregular verbs correctly.