Grammar Modules
Mastering French Verbs
Verbs are the engine of the French language. Whether you are conjugating regular patterns, tackling irregular stems, or mastering the subjunctive mood, understanding how verbs function is key to fluency. Practice these patterns with PrepMyFrench interactive exercises to build muscle memory.
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.
Action Verbs
These verbs describe physical or mental activities. They are the primary drivers of your sentences.
Stative Verbs
These verbs describe a state of being, emotion, or possession rather than a physical action.
Verb Learning Path
The Three Groups
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.
Examples in Context
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)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Je suis parle français.
Je parle français.
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.
Il faut que tu fais attention.
Il faut que tu fasses attention.
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.
Si j'aurais su, je serais venu.
Si j'avais su, je serais venu.
After si, NEVER use conditionnel. Use plus-que-parfait for type 3 conditionals. The conditional form belongs in the result clause: je serais venu.
Memory Trick
🏛️ 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!
TEF/TCF Exam Tip
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.
In Conversation
A student struggling with verb groups:
Pourquoi y a-t-il trois groupes de verbes ? C'est compliqué !
90% des verbes sont du 1er groupe (-er). Si tu maîtrises parler, tu maîtrises 90% des verbes français.
Et les verbes complètement irréguliers comme être ?
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.
French Verb Conjugator
FREE TOOLType 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.
Complete Verb Exercises
FREE · 150+ QUESTIONSPractice all French verb groups with 150+ free interactive exercises on PrepMyFrench. Verb conjugation drills, fill-in-the-blanks, and multiple-choice with instant scoring.