All grammar

In short

Regular -ir verbs like finir take -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent. Regular -re verbs like attendre take -s, -s, nothing, -ons, -ez, -ent. Apprendre and comprendre follow prendre: j'apprends, nous apprenons, ils apprennent.

Grammar

-ir and -re verbs in the present

Besides -er verbs, French has two other regular groups. For regular -ir verbs like finir, choisir and réussir, remove -ir and add: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent. So je finis, tu finis, il finit, nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent.

For regular -re verbs like attendre, répondre and vendre, remove -re and add: -s, -s, nothing, -ons, -ez, -ent. So j'attends, tu attends, il attend, nous attendons, vous attendez, ils attendent. Note that the il/elle form has no ending at all, and the d is pronounced in nous attendons but silent in il attend.

Apprendre and comprendre are irregular and follow prendre: j'apprends, nous apprenons, ils apprennent. English speakers sometimes treat all verbs like -er verbs and say je finisse or il attende; remember that each group has its own endings.

jefinis / attends
tufinis / attends
il / ellefinit / attend
nousfinissons / attendons
vousfinissez / attendez
ils / ellesfinissent / attendent

Je finis à cinq heures.

I finish at five o'clock.

Tu choisis un cours ?

Are you choosing a class?

Il attend le bus.

He is waiting for the bus.

Nous répondons à la question.

We answer the question.

Elles réussissent l'examen.

They pass the exam.

Traps to avoid

  • Nous finons à midi.

    Nous finissons à midi.

    The -er pattern tempts you to add -ons to fin-. In the plural, -ir verbs add -iss- before the ending.

  • Il attende le bus.

    Il attend le bus.

    The il form of -re verbs has no ending at all. The -e belongs to -er verbs.

  • Ils apprendent le français.

    Ils apprennent le français.

    Apprendre and comprendre look like attendre but follow prendre: the d goes and the n doubles, ils apprennent.

Drill it

From the lesson At school and university. Type each answer, no multiple choice. 20 drills on this rule.

Je mes devoirs à huit heures.

I finish my homework at eight.

Tu un cours ?

Are you choosing a class?

Il le bus.

He is waiting for the bus.

Nous à la question.

We answer the question.

Vous l'examen ?

Do you pass the exam?

Ils à midi.

They finish at noon.