French verb conjugation follows systematic patterns that change based on tense, person, and number. Understanding these rules will help you form correct verb forms and communicate effectively in French.
Present, Past, and Future tenses with specific patterns
-er, -ir, and -re verb endings with distinct patterns
First, Second, and Third person variations
Present Tense
Drop -er, add: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
Example: manger → je mange, tu manges, il mange
Past Tense (Passé Composé)
avoir/être + past participle (-é)
Example: j'ai mangé (I ate/have eaten)
Future Tense
Infinitive + -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont
Example: je mangerai (I will eat)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (I/we) | je mange | nous mangeons |
| 2nd (you) | tu manges | vous mangez |
| 3rd (he/she/they) | il/elle mange | ils/elles mangent |
Important Note
Irregular verbs don't follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
aller (to go)
je vais, tu vas, il va
je suis allé(e)
j'irai
être (to be)
je suis, tu es, il est
j'ai été
je serai
avoir (to have)
j'ai, tu as, il a
j'ai eu
j'aurai
Usage
Used with most verbs in compound tenses
Forms passé composé with past participle
Present Conjugation
Movement Verbs
Used with verbs of movement and change
je suis allé(e) - I went
Reflexive Verbs
Used with all reflexive verbs
je me suis lavé(e) - I washed myself
Present Conjugation
je suis, tu es, il/elle est
nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont
Master the basic patterns before moving to irregular verbs.
Focus on high-frequency irregular verbs like être, avoir, aller.
Master -er, -ir, and -re verb patterns systematically.
Learn verbs in sentences to understand proper usage.
Use the quiz feature to test your knowledge regularly.
Save important verbs to your favorites for focused study.