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A summary of regular & irregular verbs

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VERB COMPONENTS • Verbs are usually conjugated by removing the • Il: (third-person, singular, male subject

The Infinitive
INFINITIVE
The most basic form of the verb, such as
chanter (to sing), finir (to end), prendre (to
infinitive ending and applying a new ending,
corresponding to a certain set of rules
• There are six different endings, one for each
COMPONENTS
pronoun) chant + e — he sings
• Elle: (third-person, singular female subject
pronoun) chant + e — she sings
FRENCH

subject pronoun: • Nous: (first-person, plural, male and female

take), voir (to see) subject pronoun) chant + ons — we sing
• To use the verb chanter in the simple tense,
• Verbs are composed of a stem or radical: • Vous: (second-person, plural, male and
take the stem chant- and attach the ending

The first portion of the verb, such as chant-,
fin-, prend-
• And infinitive ending:
The last letters in the verb, such as -er, -ir,
-re, -oir; the stem or radical and the ending
create the verb: chanter, finir, prendre,
voir, etc...
VERB
female subject pronoun), and also: (second-
according to the following rules
person, singular, male and female, formal
For present tense:
subject pronoun) chant + ez — you sing
• Je: (first-person, singular subject pronoun)
• Ils: (third-person, plural, male subject
chant + e — I sing pronoun) chant + ent — they sing
• Tu: (second-person, singular familiar subject • Elles: (third-person, plural, female subject
pronoun) chant + es — you sing pronoun) chant + ent — they sing

REGULAR VERBS SIMPLE TENSES Conditional (le conditionnel present)

CONDITIONAL
chanter (to sing), finir (to finish) 1. Regular -er verbs
1.-ER VERBS chanter + ais chanter + ions
Present (le présent)
• Verbs ending in -er are the most common; they chanter + ais chanter + iez
follow the same conjugation as the verb chanter 1. Regular -er verbs
chanter + ait chanter + aient
Common -er verbs:
chercher
VERBS
to look for
chant + e
chant + es
chant + ons
chant + ez Ex: Elle chanterait bien. (She would sing well.)
2. Regular -ir verbs
chant + e chant + ent
danser to dance finir + ais finir + ions
Ex: Elle chante bien. (She sings well.)
demander to ask finir + ais finir + iez
2. Regular -ir verbs
donner to give finir + ait finir + aient
fin + is fin + issons
fermer to close Ex: Ils finiraient le livre.
fin + is fin + issez

REGULAR
jouer to play (They would finish the book.)
fin + it fin + issent
laver to wash Present Subjunctive
Ex: Ils finissent le livre.
louer to rent (le présent du subjonctif)
(They finish the book.)
marcher to walk • Follows expressions of attitudes, opinion, doubts,
Imperfect (l’imparfait)
montrer to show feelings and is intoduced by QUE
1. Regular -er verbs
parler to speak • The subjunctive is used after:
chant + ais chant + ions
refuser to refuse • Verbs of wishing, desire, or will, such as:
chant + ais chant + iez
regarder to look at

SIMPLE PAST
chant + ait chant + aient aimer que... to love that...
rencontrer to meet désirer que... to desire that...
Ex: Elle chantait bien. (She sang well.)
rester to stay 2. Regular -ir verbs souhaiter que... to wish that...
sauter to jump fin + issais fin + issions Ex: Je souhaite que tu finisses le livre.
tomber to fall fin + issais fin + issiez (I wish that you finish the book.)
toucher to touch
-ER VERBS

fin + issait fin + issaient • Expressions of emotion, opinion, doubt,

travailler to work Ex: Ils finissaient le livre. such as:
-IR VERBS

2.-IR VERBS (They finished the book.) être heureux que... to be happy that...
• With an infinitive ending in -ir, and also a Simple Past— literary tense être triste que... to be sad that...
present participle ending in -issant, they follow (le passé simple) être surpris que... to be surprised that...
REGULAR

the same conjugation as the verb finir

1. Regular -er verbs avoir peur que... to be afraid that...
Common -ir verbs:
chant + ai chant + âmes Ex: Nous sommes surpris qu’elle chante bien.
accomplir to accomplish
chant + as chant + âtes (We are surprised that she sings well.)
choisir to choose
chant + a chant + èrent • Expressions of necessity and obligation,
envahir to invade
Ex: Elle chanta bien. (She sang well.) such as:
finir to finish
2. Regular -ir verbs il faut que... must
remplir to fill
fin + is fin + îmes il est essentiel que... it is essential that...
3.-RE VERBS:
fin + is fin + îtes il est nécessaire que... it is necessary that...
With an infinitive ending in -re
fin + it fin + irent Ex: Il faut que nous finissions le livre.
Common -re verbs:
Ex: Ils finirent le livre. (They finished the book.) (We must finish the book.)
attendre to wait for
Future (le futur) 1. Regular -er verbs
entendre to hear

PAST
1. Regular -er verbs chant+e chant+ions
perdre to lose
chanter + ai chanter + ons chant+es chant+iez
rendre to give back
chanter + as chanter + ez chant+e chant+ent
vendre to sell
chanter + a chanter + ont Ex: Il faut qu’elle chante bien.
• Verbs are conjugated to match pronouns in
Ex: Elle chantera bien. (She will sing well.) (She must sing well.)
the following order:
2. Regular -ir verbs 2. Regular -ir verbs
je (I)
finir + ai finir + ons fin + isse fin + issions
tu (you, informal singular)
il, elle (he, she, it) finir + as finir + ez fin + isses fin + issiez
nous (we) -ER VERBS
vous (you, plural or formal singular)
finir + a finir + ont
Ex: Ils finiront le livre.
fin + isse fin + issent
Ex: Je souhaite qu’ils finissent le livre.
ils, elles (they) (They will finish the book.) (I wish that they would finish the book.)
1
Regular Verbs continued
PERFECT TENSES Present perfect (le passe composé) Conditional perfect
Use the following conjugation of avoir + past (le conditionnel passé)
• Perfect tenses are formed with conjugated helping
participle: j’ai, tu as, il /elle a, nous avons, vous • Use the following conjugation of avoir + past

FUTURE
verbs: avoir (to have) or être (to be) + past
participle
Past Participle (le participe passé)
• Used to form the perfect tenses
• Also used to serve as an adjective, always
agreeing in gender and number with the noun
avez, ils/elles ont

VERBS
Ex: Elle a regardé un film.
(She watched a movie.)
• Or, use the following conjugation of être + past
participle: je suis, tu es, il /elle est, nous sommes,
vous êtes, ils/elles sont
participle: j’aurais, tu aurais, il/elle aurait, nous
aurions, vous auriez, ils/elles auraient
Ex: Elle aurait regardé un film.
(She would have watched a movie.)
• Or, use the following conjugation of être +
past participle: je serais, tu serais, il/elle

being modified
Ex: le travail fini (the finished work)
• Also used to form the passive voice
• Regular -er verbs: Chant + é, és, ée, ées
• Regular -ir verbs: Fin + i, is, ie, ies
Formation of Perfect tenses
• Use the auxiliary (helping verb)
AVOIR or ETRE + past participle
Etre used with:
• Pronominal (reflexive) forms
Ex: Les filles se sont regardées.
(The girls looked at each other.)
• Verbs of motion, such as: aller, to go; venir, to
come; revenir, to come back; devenir, to
Ex: Elles sont allées au restaurant.
(They went to the restaurant.)
Past perfect (le plus-que-parfait)
• Use the following conjugation of avoir + past
participle: j’avais, tu avais, il/elle avait, nous
avions, vous aviez, ils/elles avaient
Ex: Elle avait regardé un film.
(She had watched a movie.)
• Or, use the following conjugation of être + past
participle: j’étais, tu étais, il/elle était, nous
étions, vous étiez, ils/elles étaient
Past anterior— literary tense
(le passé antérieur)
• Use the following conjugation of avoir + past
PRESENT
serait, nous serions, vous seriez, ils/elles
seraient
Ex: Elles seraient allées au restaurant.
(She would have gone to the restaurant.)
Subjunctive perfect — literary tense
(le passé du subjonctif)
• Follows expressions of attitudes, opinion, doubts,
feelings and is intoduced by QUE in the same
way as the present subjunctive
• Use the following conjugation of avoir + past
participle: j’aie, tu aies, il/elle ait, nous ayons,
vous ayez, ils/elles aient
Ex: Il faut qu’elle ait regardé un film.
(She must have watched a movie.)

PARTICIPLE
become; rester, to stay; retourner, to return;
arriver, to arrive; partir, to leave; tomber, to
fall; monter, to go up; descendre, to go down;
devenir, to become; entrer, to enter; sortir, to
go out; naitre, to be born; mourir, to die, etc...
Ex: Elle est tombeée dans l’escalier.
(She fell in the stairs.)
• Etre + past participle of the verb:
Elle est allée au restaurant.
(She went to the restaurant. = agrees with subject)
• Avoir used with all other verbs
• Avoir + past participle of the verb:
Elle a lavé la voiture.
(She washed the car .= no agreement with subject
nor object)
Elle l’ a lavée.
(agrees in gender and number with a direct object
[ l’ = la voiture] if placed before the verb)
participle: j’eus, tu eus, il/elle eut, nous eûmes,
vous eûtes, ils/elles eurent
Ex: Elle eut regardé un film.
(She had watched a movie.)
• Or, use the following conjugation of être + past
participle: je fus, tu fus, il/elle fut, nous fûmes,
vous fûtes, ils/elles furent
Ex: Elles furent allées au restaurant.
(They went to the restaurant.)
Future perfect (le futur antérieur)
• Use the following conjugation of avoir + past
participle: j’aurai, tu auras, il/elle aura, nous
aurons, vous aurez, ils/elles auront
Ex: Elle aura regardé un film.
(She will have watched a movie.)
PARTICIPLE
• Or, use the following conjugation of être + past
participle: je serai, tu seras, ils/elles sera, nous
serons, vous serez, ils/elles seront
Ex: Elles seront allées au restaurant.
(They will have gone to the restaurant.)
• Or, use the following conjugation of être: je sois,
tu sois, il/elle soit, nous soyons, vous soyez, ils/
elles soient
Ex: Il faut qu’ elles soient allées au restaurant.
(They must have gone to the restaurant.)
Pluperfect subjunctive — literary tense
(le plus-que-parfait du subjonctif)
• Follows expressions of attitudes, opinion, doubts,
feelings and is intoduced by QUE
• Use the following conjugation of avoir: j’eusse,
tu eusses, il/elle eût, nous eussions, vous
eussiez, ils/elles eussent
• Or, use the following conjugation of être: je
fusse, tu fusses, il/elle fût, nous fussions,
vous fussiez, ils/elles fussent
Pluperfect and past perfect subjunctive are literary
verb forms and are rarely used

IRREGULAR VERBS
• There is a wide variety of irregular verbs
Some examples:
SIMPLE TENSES
The following are used as examples: tenir (to
hold), lire (to read), voir (to see), aller (to go)
lisais
lisais
PAST
2. lire (to read)
lisions
lisiez

IRREGULAR
lisait lisaient
Present (le présent)
FRENCH

1. -IR VERBS 1. tenir (to hold) Ex: Je lisais le journal. (I read the newspaper.)
3. voir (to see)

CONDITIONAL
ouvrir to open tiens tenons
voyais voyions

IMPERFECT
couvrir to cover tiens tenez
offrir to offer tient tiennent voyais voyiez
souffrir to suffer Ex: Je tiens le parapluie. (I hold the umbrella.) voyait voyaient
2. lire (to read) Ex: Je voyais le film. (I saw the movie.)
ceuillir to pick, to gather
lis lisons 4. aller (to go)
acceuillir to welcome
lis lisez allais allions
SIMPLE PAST

2. -OIR VERBS lit lisent allais alliez

voir to see Ex: Je lis le journal. (I read the newspaper.) allait allaient
croire to believe 3. voir (to see) Ex: J’ allais au restaurant.
revoir to see again vois voyons (I went to the restaurant.)
recevoir to receive vois voyez Future (le futur)
3. -RE VERBS voit voient 1. tenir (to hold)
Ex: Je vois le film. (I see the movie.) tiendrai tiendrons
prendre to take

VERBS
4. aller (to go) tiendras tiendrez
reprendre to take back vais allons
comprendre to understand tiendra tiendront
vas allez
apprendre to learn Ex: Je tiendrai le parapluie.
va vont
(I will hold the umbrella.)
ENGLISH
Some of the most useful verbs are irregular: Ex: Je vais au restaurant. (I go to the restaurant.)
Imperfect (l'imparfait) 2. lire (to read)
Ex: dire (to say), faire (to do, make), aller ( to
1. tenir (to hold) lirai lirons
go), venir (to come), entendre (to hear), pouvoir liras lirez

PARTICIPLE
tenais tenions
(to be able), mettre (to put), sortir (to exit), tenais teniez lira liront
partir (to leave), voir (to see), savoir (to know), tenait tenaient Ex: Je lirai le journal.
boire (to drink), etc... Ex: Je tenais le parapluie. (I held the umbrella.) (I will read the newspaper.)

2
IRREGULAR VERBS 3.voir (to see)
voie voyions
Subjunctive perfect (le passé du subjonctif)
aie tenu (lu,vu) ayons tenu (lu,vu)
CONTINUED voies voyiez aies tenu (lu,vu) ayez tenu (lu,vu)
3. voir (to see) voie voient ait tenu (lu,vu) aient tenu (lu,vu)
verrai verrons Ex: Il faut que je voie le film. Ex: Il faut qu’ elle ait lu le journal. (It is

FRENCH
verras verrez (I must see the movie.) necessary that she has read the newspaper.)
verra verront 4. aller (to go) Pluperfect subjunctive — literary tense

4.aller (to go)

irai
iras
PAST
Ex: Je verrai le film. (I will see the movie.)

irons
irez
aille
ailles
aille
allions
alliez
aillent
Ex: Il faut que j’aille au restaurant.
(le plus-que-parfait du subjonctif)
eusse tenu (lu,vu)
eusses tenu (lu,vu)
eût tenu (lu,vu)
eussions tenu (lu,vu)
eussiez tenu (lu,vu)
eussent tenu (lu,vu)
ira iront (I must go to the restaurant.) Ex: Il faut qu’elle eût lu le journal. (It is
Ex: J’irai au restaurant. necessary that she had read the newspaper.)
(I will go to the restaurant.) PERFECT TENSES
Simple past— literary tense Formation of Perfect tenses Pluperfect and perfect subjunctive are literary
(le passé simple) • Both regular and irregular verbs have the same tenses and rarely used
1. tenir (to hold) rules for perfect tenses
tins tenâmes • They use the auxiliary (helping verb) ALLER (to go)
tins tenâtes AVOIR or ETRE + participe passé • Forms its perfect tenses with être; the past
tint tinrent Etre is used with: participle agrees in gender and number with
Ex: Je tins le parapluie. (I held the umbrella.) • Pronominal (reflexive) forms the subject

IRREGULAR
2. lire (to read) • Verbs of motion, such as: aller (to go), venir (to Present perfect (passé composé)
lis lisâmes come), revenir (to come back), devenir (to suis allé(e) sommes allé(e)s
lis lisâtes become), rester (to stay), retourner (to return), es allé(e) êtes allé(e)s
lit lisèrent arriver (to arrive), partir (to leave), tomber (to est allé(e) sont allé(e)s
Ex: Je lis le journal. (I read the newspaper.) fall), monter (to go up), descendre (to go down), Ex: Elle est allée au restaurant.
3. voir (to see) entrer (to enter), sortir (to go out), naitre (to be (She went to the restaurant.)
vis vîmes born), mourir (to die)...
vis
vit
ENGLISH vîtes
virent
• Etre + past participle of the verb:
Elle était sortie.
Past perfect (le plus-que-parfait)
étais allé(e)
étais allé(e)
étions allé(e)s
étiez allé(e)s
Ex: Je vis le film. (I saw the movie.) (She had gone out .= agrees with subject) était allé(e) étaient allé(e)s
4. aller (to go) • Avoir used with all other verbs Ex: Elle était allée au restaurant.
allai allâmes • Avoir + past participle of the verb: (I had gone to the restaurant.)
allas allâtes Elle a lu la poésie. Past anterior— literary tense
alla allèrent (She read the poetry.= no agreement with subject) (le passe antérieur )
Ex: Je suis allé au restaurant.
Elle l’ avait lue. fus allé(e) fûmes allé(e)s
(I went to the restaurant.)
(She had read it .= agrees in gender and number fus allé(e) fûtes allé(e)s
Conditional (le conditionnel)
with a direct object [l’ = la poésie] if placed fut allé(e) furent allé(e)s
1. tenir (to hold)
before the verb) Ex: Elle fut allée au restaurant.
tiendrais tiendrions
tiendrais tiendriez PAST PARTICIPLE (She has gone to the restaurant.)
tiendrait tiendraient Future perfect (le futur antérieur)
Tenir (to hold) = tenu, lire (to read) = lu, serai allé(e) serons allé(e)s
Ex: Je tiendrais le parapluie. voir (to see) = vu
(I would hold the umbrella.) seras allé(e) serez allé(e)s
Present perfect (passé composé) sera allé(e) seront allé(e)s
2. lire (to read)
ai tenu (lu,vu) avons tenu (lu,vu) Ex: Elle sera allée au restaurant.
lirais lirions
as tenu (lu,vu) avez tenu (lu,vu) (She will have gone to the restaurant.)
lirais liriez
a tenu (lu,vu) ont tenu (lu,vu) Conditional perfect (le conditionnel passé)
lirait liraient
Ex: Elle a lu le journal.
Ex: Je lirais le journal. serais allé(e) serions allé(e)s
(She read the newspaper.)
(I would read the newspaper.) serais allé(e) seriez allé(e)s
Past perfect (le plus-que-parfait)
3. voir (to see) serait allé(e) seraient allé(e)s
avais tenu (lu,vu) avions tenu (lu,vu)

VERBS
verrais verrions Ex: Elle serait allée au restaurant.
avais tenu (lu,vu) aviez tenu (lu,vu)
verrais verriez (She would have gone to the restaurant.)
verrait verraient avait tenu (lu,vu) avaient tenu (lu,vu)
Subjunctive perfect (le passé du subjonctif)
Ex: Je verrais le film. (I would see the movie.) Ex: Elle avait lu le journal.
(She has read the newspaper.) sois allé(e) soyons allé(e)s
4.aller (to go) sois allé(e) soyez allé(e)s
irais irions Past anterior— literary tense
(le passe antérieur ) soit allé(e) soient allé(e)s
irais riez Ex: Il regrette que nous ne soyons pas allé(e)s
irait iraient eus tenu (lu,vu) eûmes tenu (lu,vu)
eus tenu (lu,vu) eûtes tenu (lu,vu) en France. (He is sorry that we didn’t go
Ex: J’irais au restaurant.
eut tenu (lu,vu) eurent tenu (lu,vu) to France.)
(I would go to the restaurant.)
Ex: Elle eut lu le journal. Pluperfect subjunctive (literary form of the
Present Subjunctive
(She had read the newspaper.) subjunctive perfect)
(le présent du subjonctif)
1. tenir (to hold) Future perfect (le futur antérieur) fusse allé(e) fussions allé(e)s
tienne tenions aurai tenu (lu,vu) aurons tenu (lu,vu) fusses allé(e) fussiez allé(e)s
tiennes teniez auras tenu (lu,vu) aurez tenu (lu,vu) fût allé(e) fussent allé(e)s
tienne tiennent aura tenu (lu,vu) auront tenu (lu,vu) Ex: Il regrettait que nous ne fussions pas
Ex: Il faut que je tienne le parapluie. Ex: Elle aura lu le journal. allé(e)s en France. (He was sorry that we
(I must hold the umbrella.) (She will have read the newspaper.) didn’t go to France.)
2. lire (to read) Conditional perfect (le conditionnel passé)
lise lisions aurais tenu (lu,vu) aurions tenu (lu,vu)
lises lisiez aurais tenu (lu,vu) auriez tenu (lu,vu)
lise lisent aurait tenu (lu,vu) auraient tenu (lu,vu)
Ex: Il faut que je lise le journal. Ex: Elle aurait lu le journal.
(I must read the newspaper.) (She would have read the newspaper.)

3
 elles se lavent to make no difference; être de retour, to be back
MORE WAYS • Most verbs can be used in a reflexive way AVOIR (to have)
TO USE VERBS Ex: Il se lave (reflexive). (He washes himself.) • Helping verb to form the perfect tenses

VERBS
Il lave la voiture (non-reflexive). (He washes • Expresses a broad range of conditions
Imperative Mood (l’ imperatif)
the car.) Ex: avoir chaud, to be hot; avoir froid, to be
• Used when giving orders and directions
• May be used to express two types of action: cold; avoir envie, to feel like; avoir faim, to
• NO SUBJECT PRONOUNS ARE USED in the
• Reflexive: Je me demande s’il viendra.

EXPRESSIONS
imperative be hungry; avoir soif, to be thirsty;
(I wonder if he will come.) avoir peur, to be fearful; avoir honte,
1. Verbs ending in (-er)
• Reciprocal: Ils se parlent tous les jours. to be ashamed; avoir besoin, to need;
chant + e
(They speak to each other every day.) avoir le cafard, to have the blues; avoir
chant + ons
• Some verbs assume a different meaning when they raison, to be right; avoir tort, to be wrong;
chant + ez
become pronominal avoir peur de, to be afraid; avoir sommeil,
Ex: Chantons! (Lets sing!); Chante! (Sing!)
Ex: Il ennuie les voisins. (He bothers the to be sleepy; avoir 20 ans, to be 20 years old;
2. Verbs ending in (-ir)
neighbors.) vs. Il s’ennuie le Dimanche. avoir mal, to have an ache; avoir mal à la
fin + is (He is bored on Sunday.)
fin + issons tete, to have a headache; avoir besoin de, to
• Idiomatic pronominal verbs change meaning when need; avoir envie de, to want; avoir l’air, to
fin + issez used in a reflexive construction:
Ex: Finissons la vaisselle! look to seem; avoir de la chance, to be

VERBS
NON-PRONOMINAL PRONOMINAL lucky; avoir de la patience, to be patient;
(Let’s finish the dishes!)
aller to go s’en aller to go away avoir le temps, to have the time
3. Negative commands
apercevoir to see s’apercevoir to realize Ex: Elle a besoin de parler avec ses amies.
• To form a negative command, use ne (verb) pas
attendre to wait s’attendre à to expect (She needs to speak to her friends.)
Ex: Ne marchez pas sur l’herbe. (Do not walk
douter to doubt se douter de to suspect • Expresses a person’s age
on the grass.); Ne chante pas! (Don’t
sing!) ennuyer to bother s’ennuyer to be Ex: J’ai dix ans. (I am 10 years old.)
4. Several irregular forms are very commonly used bored • Expresses there is, there are
Ex: Fais attention (be careful); entendre to hear s’entendre to get Ex: Il y a beaucoup de monde.
sois gentil (be nice) avec along with (There are a lot of people.)
Present Participle (le participe présent) faire to do, s’en faire to be FAIRE (to do, make)
• Equivalent to the English gerund, the -ing form to make worried • Used in the third-person singular, faire expresses
of verbs (singing, ending) mettre to put, place se mettre à to begin various ideas about the weather
• Formation: Drop the ending -ons from the first- passer to pass se passer de to do Ex: il fait chaud, it is hot; il fait frais, it is cool;
person plural of the present tense and add -ant without il fait froid, it is cold; il fait beau, the

IMPERATIVE
• Regular -er verbs: chant + ant (singing)
Ex: Elle lave la vaisselle en chantant.
(She sings while doing the dishes.)
plaindre to pity

servir to serve
se plaindre to
complain
se servir de to use
weather is nice; il fait mauvais, the weather
is bad; il fait du soleil, the sun is shining; il
fait du vent, it is windy; il fait du
• Regular -ir verbs: finiss + ant (finishing) tromper to deceive se tromper to be brouillard, it is foggy; il fait jour, it is
Ex: il chante en finissant ses devoirs. mistaken daylight; il fait nuit, it is night
(He sings while finishing his homework.) • The verb être is used as auxiliary for the • Common idiomatic expressions: faire les
• Some irregular present participles: avoir: ayant compound tenses courses, to go shopping; faire du vélo, to
(having); être : étant (being); savoir : sachant Ex: Ils se sont parlés. (They spoke to each other.) bike; faire du sport, to play sports; faire les
(knowing); voir :voyant (seeing); aller:allant (going) Elle s’est lavée. (She washed herself.) bagages; to pack; faire une promenade, to
Passive Voice Il s’est lavé. (He washed himself.)
take a walk; faire un voyage, to take a trip;
• When the subject and the object are switched, • When a part of the subject’s body is the direct
VERBS

faire l’impossible, to do the impossible; faire de

use the passive voice conjugated with etre + past object of a reflexive verb, a definite article is used
son mieux, to do one’s best; faire fortune, to
participle; the past participle agrees with instead of a possessive adjective
become rich; faire des economies, to save
the subject Ex: Il se lave les mains. (He washes his hands.)
IMPORTANT VERBS & money; faire mal, to hurt; faire attention, to pay
Ex: La souris est mangée par le chat. IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS attention; faire peur, to scare; faire confiance,
(The mouse is eaten by the cat.) to trust; faire des courses, to do errands; faire le
• As opposed to the active voice: Le chat mange menage, to do housework; faire la queue, to wait
la souris. (The cat eats the mouse.) ETRE (to be)
in line
Pronominal (Reflexive) Verbs Ex: Il est grand. (He is tall.); La bouteille est
Ex: Elle fait une promenade le matin.
(les verbs pronominaux) verte. (The bottle is green.)
(She takes a walk in the morning.)
• Describe daily routines and personal • Tells the time and the date
ALLER (to go)
relationships Ex: Il est 10 heures. (It is 10 o’clock.); C’est
vendredi. (It is Friday.) • To communicate a sense of future intent
• Used where the subject and the direct (or indirect) Ex: nous allons gagner (we will win)
• Helping verb to form the perfect tenses of some
object are the same • To feel
verbs and the passive voice
Ex: Il se rase chaque matin. Ex: Comment allez-vous? How are you?;
Ex: La souris est attrapée par le chat.
(He shaves (himself) every morning.) je vais bien, I feel well; je vais mal, I feel

PRONOMINAL
(The mouse is caught by the cat.)
• The following pronouns follow each subject bad; je vais mieux, I feel better
• Expresses location
pronoun: me, te, se, nous, vous, se • More expressions with aller: aller en avion,
Ex: Nous sommes dans le jardin.
Je me lave to go by plane; aller à pied, to go by foot; aller
tu te laves (We are in the garden.)
• Expresses a condition en (par) le train, to go by train; alle à bicyclette,
il se lave to go by bicycle
elle se lave Ex: Elle est heureuse. (She is happy.)
• Common idiomatic expressions: être en train de, Ex: Nous allons en voiture. (We go by car.)
nous nous lavons
to be in the act of doing something; ex: Je suis en See QuickStudy® guides French Vocabulary &
vous vous lavez
train de travailler, I am working now; être égal, French Grammar for more information
ils se lavent

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