PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
Conjugation directory
Browse a curated directory of high-value French verb conjugation pages with full tense tables, examples, exam notes, and related links to the core grammar lessons.
to be
to have
to go
to do / to make
to be able to / can
to want
to be
Être is the backbone of identity, description, and state. It also matters because it appears in the passive voice and as an auxiliary in compound tenses.
to have
Avoir is one of the most useful verbs in French. It marks possession, age, and many fixed expressions, and it is the default auxiliary in compound tenses.
to do / to make
Faire is a high-value verb because it is flexible: it works as a general action verb, inside weather expressions, and inside dozens of fixed phrases.
to give
Donner is a fundamental verb in French, used to express giving something to someone, whether physical objects or abstract concepts. Its regular -er conjugation makes it easy to learn, but it's vital for TEF/TCF Canada tasks like describing exchanges or gifts.
to wait (for)
Attendre is a common regular -re verb that is essential for daily conversations about waiting or expecting something. It is frequently used in both formal and informal contexts.
to live
Vivre is an irregular -re verb that is fundamental for discussing life, experiences, and residence. Its conjugation is unique and must be memorized for effective communication.
to look for / to search
Chercher is a regular -er verb that is crucial for expressing the act of searching or looking for something. It is widely used in everyday French.
to wear / to carry
Porter is a fundamental verb in French, used to describe wearing clothes or carrying objects. Mastering it is essential for everyday conversations and basic descriptions.
to stop / to arrest
Arrêter is a versatile verb used to express stopping an action or halting movement. It is crucial for giving commands, describing interruptions, and discussing legal contexts in French.
to find / to think
Trouver is a fundamental verb used both for locating objects and expressing opinions. It is indispensable for everyday French and exam contexts.
to work
Travailler is a regular -er verb that is essential for discussing jobs, studies, and efforts. It is one of the most common verbs in French and frequently appears in TEF/TCF exams.
to receive
Recevoir is an irregular -oir verb that is crucial for discussing gifts, mail, or information. Its conjugation pattern (like devoir) is important for intermediate learners.
to act
Agir is a regular -ir verb that describes taking action or behaving in a certain way. It is crucial for TEF/TCF Canada tasks that require discussing actions, reactions, or responsibilities.
to hope
Espérer is a stem-changing -er verb (é to è in some forms) that conveys hope and expectation. It is important for TEF/TCF Canada tasks where you express wishes or future aspirations.
to pay
Payer is a crucial verb for everyday transactions and financial discussions. Mastering its conjugation helps you handle real-life situations in French-speaking environments.
to win / to earn
Gagner is a versatile verb used in contexts of winning competitions, earning money, or gaining advantages. It is common in both casual and formal French.
to buy
Acheter is a fundamental verb for shopping and transactions. It is essential for everyday conversations about purchases and consumer behavior.
to exist
Exister is a regular -er verb used to state the existence of something. It is important for expressing reality, possibilities, or philosophical concepts.
to close / to shut
Fermer is a regular -er verb that is crucial for everyday actions like closing doors, windows, or shops. It appears frequently in both written and spoken French.
to open
Ouvrir is an irregular -ir verb that is vital for describing actions like opening doors, windows, or containers. It is a high-frequency verb in daily French.
to finish / to end
Finir is a regular -ir verb that is essential for expressing completion in French. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
to cut / to chop
Couper is a regular -er verb that is practical for describing actions in cooking, crafting, and everyday tasks. Its straightforward conjugation makes it easy to learn and use in various contexts.
to hide / to conceal
Cacher is a regular -er verb that is useful for expressing secrecy or concealment in French. It appears in both literal and figurative contexts, from hiding an object to hiding emotions.
to help / to assist
Aider is a regular -er verb that is fundamental for expressing assistance and cooperation in French. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a key verb for everyday interactions.
to eat
Manger is one of the most common verbs in French, essential for daily life and dining situations. Its conjugation is regular except for a spelling change in the nous form.
to drink
Boire is an essential French verb used in daily life, from ordering beverages to discussing health habits. Mastering its irregular conjugation is key for TEF/TCF Canada candidates aiming for fluency.
to save / to rescue
Sauver is a vital verb in French, frequently used in everyday conversations about rescuing people, animals, or even data. Mastering its conjugation helps you express urgency and assistance clearly.
to kill
Tuer is a strong verb used in serious contexts, from news reports to literature. Knowing its conjugation is crucial for discussing violence, accidents, or even figurative expressions like 'tuer le temps' (to kill time).
to die
Mourir is an irregular verb essential for expressing death, endings, or strong emotions (e.g., 'mourir d'ennui'). Its conjugation is tricky but common in TEF/TCF exams.
to be born
Naître is a key verb for discussing origins, birthdays, and beginnings. It is irregular and often appears in biographical contexts in TEF/TCF exams.
to age / to grow old
Vieillir is a regular -ir verb that is essential for discussing aging, time, and personal growth. It appears frequently in TEF/TCF Canada reading and listening texts about health, society, and family.
to cure / to heal
Guérir is a regular -ir verb that is crucial for talking about health, recovery, and medicine. It often appears in TEF/TCF Canada listening and reading passages about healthcare and personal experiences.
to hurt / to injure
Blesser is a regular -er verb that is important for describing physical injuries or emotional hurt. It is common in TEF/TCF Canada dialogues about accidents, sports, or feelings.
to protect
Protéger is a stem-changing -er verb (é to è) that is vital for discussing safety, environment, and rights. It appears frequently in TEF/TCF Canada reading and writing tasks about social issues and nature.
to attack
Attaquer is a regular -er verb that is essential for describing conflicts, criticism, or sports. It is common in TEF/TCF Canada listening and reading passages about news, debates, or games.
to be able to / can
Pouvoir is one of the central modal verbs in French. It softens requests, describes ability, and lets you talk about possibility with control.
to want
Vouloir is the verb of desire, intention, and polite pressure. It is essential for speaking clearly about what you want or what you would like.
must / to have to
Devoir lets you express obligation, probability, and duty. It is one of the clearest ways to make an argument sound structured and exam-ready.
to allow / to permit
Permettre is an irregular verb that is crucial for expressing permission and possibility. It is often used in formal and academic French, making it important for higher-level TEF/TCF tasks.
to go
Aller is both a movement verb and the engine of the futur proche. That makes it one of the most visible verbs in everyday French.
to come
Venir is a movement verb that also appears inside many fixed expressions and tense patterns. It is especially useful in narration and travel contexts.
to leave
Partir is the cleanest way to describe leaving, departure, or moving on from a place or situation. It is common in both travel and narrative writing.
to go out / to take out
Sortir is useful because it can mean leaving a place, going out socially, or taking something out. That flexibility makes it a good exam verb.
to take
Prendre is one of the most common French action verbs. It appears in literal travel language and in many fixed expressions with abstract meanings.
to pass / to spend (time)
Passer is a versatile verb in French, used for passing objects, spending time, or going through places, making it invaluable for TEF/TCF Canada exam contexts. Its conjugation is regular, but it can be tricky with auxiliary verbs in compound tenses.
to leave / to let
Laisser is a versatile verb that appears frequently in everyday French, especially in instructions and polite requests. Mastering it will boost your confidence in the TEF/TCF Canada oral interaction section.
to stay / to remain
Rester is a fundamental verb for describing location and duration, commonly used in everyday conversations. It is a must-know for the TEF/TCF Canada exam, especially in the listening and reading sections.
to give back / to return (something)
Rendre is a versatile verb used for returning objects or making someone something, common in daily transactions and formal contexts. Its conjugation is regular but its usage can be tricky, making it important for TEF/TCF preparation.
to arrive / to happen
Arriver is a crucial verb for discussing events and travel, frequently used in everyday French. Its conjugation is regular, but it is often used with the auxiliary 'être' in compound tenses, a key point for TEF/TCF grammar.
to become
Devenir is an irregular verb that expresses transformation or change of state. It is crucial for describing personal growth, career changes, or evolving situations.
to enter / to go in
Entrer is a regular -er verb that indicates movement into a place. It is frequently used in directions, descriptions, and narratives.
to fall
Tomber is a common movement verb used to describe falling physically or metaphorically, such as falling in love or falling into a habit. It is essential for everyday conversations and storytelling in French.
to throw
Jeter is a common verb for throwing objects or discarding something. It is important for describing actions in sports, daily life, and waste management in French.
to follow
Suivre is an essential irregular verb for expressing direction, sequence, or understanding in French. Mastering it helps you describe following a path, a person, or a lesson.
to go up / to climb
Monter is a common verb for upward movement, used in everyday contexts like climbing stairs or getting into a vehicle. It is also a key verb for describing travel and actions.
to lift / to raise
Lever is a useful verb for actions involving lifting or raising objects, and it is also the base for the pronominal verb 'se lever' (to get up). It is common in daily routines.
to change
Changer is a regular -er verb with a spelling change (g to ge before a or o) that is essential for discussing modifications, transformations, or exchanges. It is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.
to bring
Apporter is a key verb for describing the action of bringing something to a place or person. It is widely used in daily conversations and exam scenarios.
to meet / to encounter
Rencontrer is vital for describing social interactions and chance encounters, a frequent topic in TEF/TCF speaking and writing. As a regular -er verb, it is easy to conjugate, but its nuances with other 'meet' verbs can trip up learners.
to bring (someone)
Amener is a key verb for expressing the action of bringing a person or an animal to a place. It is essential for everyday conversations about travel, visits, and social gatherings.
to dance
Danser is a regular -er verb that is essential for describing leisure activities and cultural expressions. It is commonly tested in TEF/TCF Canada sections on daily routines and preferences.
to swim
Nager is a regular -er verb with a spelling change (adding a 'e' after 'g' before 'a' and 'o') that is crucial for discussing sports and health. It is a common verb in TEF/TCF Canada listening and reading passages.
to travel
Voyager is a regular -er verb with a spelling change (adding a 'e' after 'g' before 'a' and 'o') that is essential for discussing travel experiences and plans. It frequently appears in TEF/TCF Canada speaking and writing prompts about vacations.
to fly / to steal
Voler is a versatile verb meaning both 'to fly' and 'to steal', making it essential for describing actions in the air or dishonest behavior. Mastering its conjugation helps you express movement and actions in everyday French.
to walk / to work (function)
Marcher is a fundamental verb for describing walking or the functioning of objects, crucial for daily conversations. Its regular -er conjugation makes it easy to learn and use.
to run
Courir is an irregular -ir verb that is key for expressing speed and urgency in French. Its unique conjugation pattern is important for TEF/TCF exam preparation.
to jump / to skip
Sauter is a regular -er verb that describes jumping or skipping, useful for dynamic actions and instructions. Its straightforward conjugation makes it a reliable verb for beginners.
to slide / to slip
Glisser is a regular -er verb that describes sliding or slipping, perfect for discussing movement on surfaces or accidents. Its conjugation is simple and follows standard patterns.
to grow up / to grow
Grandir is a regular -ir verb that describes physical growth, personal development, or expansion. It is useful for talking about childhood and progress in TEF/TCF exams.
to know
Savoir is the verb for information, facts, skills, and knowing how to do something. It is one of the easiest verbs to misuse if you translate English too literally.
to see
Voir is more than physical sight. It is also used for understanding, checking, and meeting people in everyday French.
to say / to tell
Dire is essential for reporting information, giving instructions, and handling indirect speech. It is a core verb in both speaking and writing tasks.
to know / to be familiar with
Connaître is the companion of savoir. It is the verb for familiarity, acquaintance, and knowing a person, place, or thing through experience.
to believe
Croire is useful for opinions, belief, and degrees of certainty. It shows up constantly in explanation, argument, and discussion tasks.
to speak / to talk
Parler is one of the most essential French verbs for everyday communication, used to express speaking or talking in various contexts. Mastering its conjugation is crucial for TEF/TCF Canada candidates, as it frequently appears in both oral and written sections.
to love / to like
Aimer is a key verb for expressing preferences and emotions in French, essential for TEF/TCF Canada candidates to discuss likes, dislikes, and relationships. Its regular conjugation pattern is straightforward, but its nuances can trip up learners.
to ask / to request
Demander is a crucial verb for asking questions or making requests in French, frequently used in TEF/TCF Canada exam scenarios like interviews or dialogues. Its regular -er conjugation is simple, but its construction with prepositions can be confusing.
to seem / to appear
Sembler is a key verb for expressing opinions and impressions in French, making it essential for the TEF/TCF Canada exam. It helps you sound more nuanced and natural in both writing and speaking tasks.
to think
Penser is one of the most common verbs in French, essential for expressing thoughts, beliefs, and opinions. It is heavily tested in the TEF/TCF Canada exam across all sections.
to hear / to understand
Entendre is a crucial verb for listening comprehension and expressing auditory perception in French. It appears frequently in the TEF/TCF Canada listening section and everyday dialogues.
to watch / to look at
Regarder is a fundamental verb for describing visual actions, essential for everyday conversations about media, people, and events. Mastering its conjugation helps you express what you watch or observe, a common task in TEF/TCF speaking and writing.
to answer / to respond
Répondre is a key verb for interactions, allowing you to reply to questions or messages. It is frequently tested in TEF/TCF listening and speaking sections where you need to respond appropriately.
to seem / to appear
Paraître is an irregular verb that expresses appearance or perception, useful for nuanced descriptions in French. It is often used in formal writing and speaking, making it valuable for higher-level TEF/TCF tasks.
to feel / to smell
Sentir is a versatile verb that covers both physical sensations and olfactory perceptions. Mastering its conjugation is key for expressing emotions and sensory experiences in French.
to understand
Comprendre is an irregular -re verb that is essential for expressing comprehension and understanding. It is frequently used in both formal and informal contexts.
to retain / to hold back / to remember
Retenir is an irregular verb from the tenir family, meaning to keep, hold back, or memorize. It is important for expressing memory, reservations, or restraint.
to call / to name
Appeler is a stem-changing -er verb used for calling someone or naming things. It is essential for introductions, phone calls, and everyday interactions.
to show
Montrer is a regular -er verb that is essential for indicating or demonstrating something to someone. It is frequently used in everyday conversations and exam scenarios.
to listen to
Écouter is a regular -er verb that is essential for communication, describing the act of listening attentively. It is frequently used in classroom and social contexts.
to smile
Sourire is a common French verb that expresses a positive facial expression. It is essential for describing emotions and reactions in everyday conversations and exam scenarios.
to tell / to narrate
Raconter is a regular -er verb that is vital for storytelling and sharing experiences. It frequently appears in TEF/TCF writing and speaking tasks.
to play
Jouer is a versatile first-group verb that is essential for expressing leisure activities, sports, and games. Mastering its conjugation and the correct use of prepositions (à vs. de) is crucial for everyday conversations.
to call back / to remind
Rappeler is a stem-changing verb (appeler type) that is vital for phone conversations and memory-related expressions. Its pronominal form 'se rappeler' is frequently tested in TEF/TCF.
to lose
Perdre is a common -re verb that expresses loss in both physical and abstract contexts. Mastering its conjugation is essential for describing lost items, missed opportunities, or defeats in TEF/TCF Canada tasks.
to explain
Expliquer is a regular -er verb that is vital for clarifying ideas and providing reasons. It frequently appears in TEF/TCF Canada writing and speaking tasks where you need to justify opinions or describe processes.
to create
Créer is a fundamental verb for expressing creativity and innovation in French. It is frequently used in both formal and informal contexts, making it essential for TEF/TCF exam takers.
to add
Ajouter is a versatile verb used in cooking, writing, and general instructions. It is essential for expressing the idea of adding something to a context.
to cry
Pleurer is an emotional verb that helps you express sadness or strong feelings in French. It is useful for storytelling and describing personal experiences.
to use
Utiliser is a regular -er verb that is crucial for expressing how you employ objects, tools, or services. It appears frequently in TEF/TCF writing tasks when giving instructions or describing processes.
to prepare
Préparer is a regular -er verb that is vital for describing how you get ready for events, exams, or meals. It is commonly tested in TEF/TCF listening and writing sections.
to decide
Décider is a regular -er verb that helps you express choices and plans, a key skill for TEF/TCF speaking tasks. It is often used with the preposition 'de' followed by an infinitive.
to propose / to suggest
Proposer is a regular -er verb that is essential for making suggestions or offering ideas, a common function in TEF/TCF speaking and writing. It often takes the preposition 'de' before an infinitive.
to succeed / to pass (an exam)
Réussir is a crucial verb for TEF/TCF Canada candidates, as it expresses success in exams, projects, or life goals. Mastering its conjugation helps you talk about achievements and results in both writing and speaking tasks.
to learn / to teach
Apprendre is essential for discussing education and skill acquisition, a common theme in TEF/TCF speaking and writing prompts. Its irregular conjugation pattern is shared with other -prendre verbs, making it a model to study.
to send
Envoyer is a high-frequency verb for everyday communication, such as sending emails, letters, or messages—a common scenario in TEF/TCF tasks. Its unique conjugation in the future and conditional tenses (enverr-) is a key point to master.
to sell
Vendre is a key verb for commerce and daily transactions, often appearing in TEF/TCF listening and reading comprehension. As a regular -re verb, it serves as a model for other -re verbs like attendre and répondre.
to build / to construct
Construire is an important verb for describing the creation of structures, ideas, or systems. It is frequently used in discussions about architecture, projects, and planning.
to accept
Accepter is a regular -er verb that is essential for expressing agreement or consent in French. Mastering it helps you navigate social and professional interactions with confidence.
to offer / to give (as a gift)
Offrir is an irregular -ir verb that is key for expressing generosity and making offers in French. It is frequently used in social and professional settings.
to choose / to select
Choisir is a regular -ir verb that is essential for expressing preferences and decisions in French. Mastering its conjugation helps you navigate everyday conversations, from selecting a meal to making important life choices.
to excuse / to forgive
Excuser is a regular -er verb that is crucial for polite interactions and apologies in French. It helps you navigate social situations, from excusing yourself to forgiving others.
to serve / to be useful
Servir is a versatile verb that appears frequently in both formal and informal French. Mastering its conjugation is crucial for describing service, utility, and daily actions.
to interest / to be of interest
Intéresser is a key verb for expressing likes, hobbies, and professional interests. It is essential for building engaging conversations in French.
to laugh
Rire is an irregular verb that adds emotional expression to your French. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and storytelling.
to thank
Remercier is a polite and essential verb for expressing gratitude in French. It is frequently used in formal letters, emails, and everyday interactions.
to sing
Chanter is a regular -er verb that is fundamental for expressing artistic activities and emotions. It appears frequently in TEF/TCF Canada listening and speaking tasks about hobbies.
to shout / to scream
Crier is a common verb used to express strong emotions or to get someone's attention loudly. Mastering it helps you describe reactions and urgent situations in French.
to whisper
Chuchoter is essential for describing quiet conversations or secretive exchanges. It adds nuance to your vocabulary for different speech volumes.
to defend / to forbid
Défendre is a versatile verb that can mean both 'to defend' and 'to forbid,' making it essential for expressing protection or prohibition in French. Mastering its conjugation helps you discuss legal, moral, or personal boundaries effectively.
to invite
Inviter is a regular -er verb that is crucial for social interactions, whether inviting someone to an event or suggesting an activity. Its simplicity makes it a staple for beginners and a useful tool for the TEF/TCF speaking section.
to refuse / to reject
Refuser is a regular -er verb that is key for expressing disagreement or denial in French. It is frequently used in both formal and informal contexts, making it valuable for the TEF/TCF exam.
to promise
Promettre is an irregular -re verb that is essential for making commitments and expressing intentions in French. Its conjugation pattern is similar to other -mettre verbs, and it is frequently tested in TEF/TCF exams.
to lie
Mentir is an irregular -ir verb that is crucial for discussing dishonesty or deception in French. It is commonly used in both everyday conversations and formal contexts, making it a valuable verb for the TEF/TCF exam.
to confess / to admit
Avouer is a key verb for expressing honesty or guilt in French, often used in formal or emotional contexts. Mastering it helps you convey admissions or confessions clearly in writing or speech.
to forgive / to pardon
Pardonner is essential for expressing forgiveness in French, a common theme in personal and professional interactions. It is often used with indirect objects to specify who is forgiven.
to imagine / to picture
Imaginer is a versatile verb for expressing creativity or hypothetical scenarios in French. It is frequently used in everyday conversation and exam prompts to describe possibilities or ideas.
to put / to place
Mettre is a high-frequency verb with a wide range of meanings. It appears in literal placement, time expressions, and many common idioms.
to read
Lire is a straightforward but important verb for reading tasks, studying, and everyday information handling. It is especially useful for exam instructions.
to write
Écrire matters because it connects directly to exam writing. It is a practical verb for notes, messages, letters, and formal communication.
to hold / to keep
Tenir is a flexible verb for holding, keeping, maintaining, and expressing points of view. It is one of those verbs that quietly appears everywhere.
to start / to begin
Commencer is a key verb for expressing the beginning of an action or event. It is widely used in both formal and informal contexts, making it vital for TEF/TCF exam tasks.
to continue
Continuer is a regular -er verb that helps express ongoing actions or persistence. It is vital for linking ideas in speech and writing.
to forget
Oublier is a regular -er verb that is essential for expressing memory lapses and is commonly used in daily conversations. Its conjugation is straightforward, making it a safe choice for beginners.
to try
Essayer is a common -er verb with a spelling change (y to i in certain forms) that expresses attempts or trials. It is frequently used in TEF/TCF Canada to describe efforts or experiments.
to sleep
Dormir is an essential verb for discussing daily routines and habits, a common topic in TEF/TCF Canada speaking tasks. Mastering its conjugation helps you describe rest, relaxation, and lifestyle.
to dream
Rêver is a beautiful verb for expressing aspirations, fantasies, or nighttime dreams. It's frequently used in both literal and figurative contexts.
to shine / to sparkle
Briller is a vivid verb used to describe light, success, or excellence. It's perfect for adding descriptive flair to your French.
to burn
Brûler is a practical verb for describing fire, heat, or destruction. It's useful in everyday conversations and emergency contexts.
Use the ranked verb list when you want the most common forms in one place before drilling deeper.
If you need the supporting grammar pages first, the verbs hub links to auxiliaries, moods, participles, and the existing exam-focused lessons.
It collects the highest-value verb conjugation pages in one place so you can move from the big picture into the exact verb you need without bouncing around the site.
Start with être, avoir, aller, and faire. Those four verbs carry a lot of exam writing and speaking mileage, and they anchor the rest of the directory.
Use the related links on each verb page and then open the interactive conjugator to compare forms, moods, and compound tenses.