PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
Verbs
Learn how French verbs work — from everyday actions to the moods you'll need on TEF and TCF.
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French verbs are divided into three groups: 1st group (-er verbs, the largest and most regular), 2nd group (-ir verbs ending in -issant like finir), and 3rd group (all others including -re and -oir verbs, many irregular). The auxiliary verbs avoir and être are the foundation of all compound tenses. Learning the top 50 most common French verbs covers the vast majority of everyday usage.
A useful distinction
These verbs describe physical or mental activities. They are the primary drivers of your sentences.
These verbs describe a state of being, emotion, or possession rather than a physical action.
Choose one topic after you finish the essentials above.
French verbs are categorized into three groups based on their infinitive endings, which determines their conjugation pattern. Check the PrepMyFrench verb conjugator for instant tables.
Je parle anglais et français couramment.
I speak English and French fluently. (-er verb, 1st group)
Nous finissons le projet cette semaine.
We're finishing the project this week. (-ir verb, 2nd group)
Elle attend le bus depuis vingt minutes.
She's been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes. (-re verb, 3rd group)
Il faut que tu fasses attention.
You need to be careful. (falloir + subjonctif)
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please. (conditionnel — polite request)
Ayant fini mon travail, je suis rentré.
Having finished my work, I went home. (participe composé — formal)
Avoid this
Je suis parle français.
Say this instead
Je parle français.
Why: French present tense is SIMPLE: Je parle. Unlike English, there is no 'am speaking' form. Never use être + verb to express present continuous — that's an anglicism.
Avoid this
Il faut que tu fais attention.
Say this instead
Il faut que tu fasses attention.
Why: Il faut que triggers the SUBJUNCTIVE. After expressions of necessity (il faut que, il est nécessaire que), always use the subjunctive. This is tested at B1.
Avoid this
Si j'aurais su, je serais venu.
Say this instead
Si j'avais su, je serais venu.
Why: After si, NEVER use conditionnel. Use plus-que-parfait for type 3 conditionals. The conditional form belongs in the result clause: je serais venu.
🏛️ The Three Verb Clubs
French verbs are like three clubs with different dress codes. Club -ER (90% of verbs) — the biggest, friendliest club where everyone follows the same rules. Club -IR (issant verbs like finir) — smaller, but still regular once you know the pattern. Club -RE/-OIR/-IR (tout le reste) — the exclusive, irregular club where every member has their own style. Être and avoir are the VIP hosts that get you into all the compound-tense after-parties!
Verb conjugation is assessed at every TEF/TCF level. A1: present of regular -er verbs and être/avoir. A2: passé composé, common irregulars. B1: subjonctif présent, conditionnel, all compound tenses. B2: subjonctif passé, participe composé, all literary tenses for recognition. The verbs most frequently tested in grammar sections are être, avoir, faire, aller, pouvoir, vouloir, and devoir.
A student struggling with verb groups:
Étudiant
Pourquoi y a-t-il trois groupes de verbes ? C'est compliqué !
Tuteur
90% des verbes sont du 1er groupe (-er). Si tu maîtrises parler, tu maîtrises 90% des verbes français.
Étudiant
Et les verbes complètement irréguliers comme être ?
Tuteur
Il n'y en a qu'une vingtaine de vraiment irréguliers. Apprends-les un par un. Les autres suivent des sous-modèles : venir comme tenir, mettre comme battre.
Type any French verb into PrepMyFrench's free conjugator and instantly see all conjugations across every tense and mood — présent, passé composé, subjonctif, plus-que-parfait, and more.
Practice all French verb groups with 150+ free interactive exercises on PrepMyFrench. Verb conjugation drills, fill-in-the-blanks, and multiple-choice with instant scoring.
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Avoir & Être