PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
The table below presents a list of the most common irregular verbs in French along with their conjugation in different tenses.
“Meaning avoir”
je j'ai
tu tu
“Meaning être”
je suis
tu tu
“Meaning aller”
je vais
tu tu
“Meaning faire”
je fais
tu tu
Not sure about a specific conjugation? Want to check a specific verb? Go to our French verb conjugator. To learn more about the different tenses, go to our overview of the French indicative tenses.
Tool Tip ActionJe vais au marché tous les samedis.
I go to the market every Saturday. (aller)
Tu fais toujours de ton mieux.
You always do your best. (faire)
Il peut venir ce soir s'il veut.
He can come tonight if he wants. (pouvoir + vouloir)
Nous venons de Paris.
We come from Paris. (venir)
Elles prennent le petit-déjeuner ensemble.
They have breakfast together. (prendre)
Je sais que tu dois partir tôt.
I know you have to leave early. (savoir + devoir)
Je suis allé, tu es allé... (passé composé)
Je suis allé(e). N'oublie pas l'accord !
Aller uses être in passé composé: je suis allé(e). The past participle must agree: Elle est allée, Ils sont allés. This is a Dr. & Mrs. Vandertramp verb.
Je peux venir ? (correct) / Je peus venir ? (wrong)
Je peux venir ?
Pouvoir is irregular: je peux (not je peus), tu peux, il peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils peuvent. The 'x' ending for je/tu is unusual but essential.
Je sais conduire. / Je connais Paris.
Both correct: savoir = know how to / facts. connaître = be familiar with / know people/places.
Savoir vs connaître is a classic trap. Savoir + infinitive = know how to. Connaître + noun/name = be familiar with. Je sais nager, Je connais Marie.
🦹 The Irregular Verb Alliance
Irregular verbs are the 'rebel alliance' of French — they refuse to follow the standard -er/-ir/-re patterns. But even rebels have families! Venir and tenir share the same conjugation. Prendre, comprendre, and apprendre are triplets. Mettre, battre, and promettre march together. Learn the rebel families instead of fighting each verb alone. Think of it like a mafia — once you know the family boss (venir), you know all the capos (tenir, devenir, revenir)!
Irregular verbs are tested at every TEF/TCF level. A1/A2: être, avoir, aller, faire (present). B1: pouvoir, vouloir, devoir, savoir, venir, prendre (present + passé composé). B2: all irregulars in subjunctive and conditional. The most frequently tested irregulars: être, avoir, faire, aller, pouvoir, vouloir, devoir. Master these 7 in all tenses first.
A student struggling with irregular verb patterns:
Je ne peux pas retenir tous ces verbes irréguliers !
Regroupe-les par famille. Venir, tenir, devenir, revenir — tous pareils !
Et prendre, comprendre, apprendre ?
Exactement ! Même radical, mêmes terminaisons. Tu viens de découvrir le secret.
Practice irregular with 25 interactive multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank exercises. Instant scoring with grammar explanations for each answer.
Type any irregular French verb into PrepMyFrench's free conjugator — aller, faire, prendre, venir, pouvoir, vouloir — and see all forms instantly.