French Verb Conjugator

Instantly conjugate any French verb across all core tenses (Présent, Passé Composé, Imparfait, Futur Simple, Conditionnel, Subjonctif, Impératif). Native audio pronunciation, auxiliary identification, and interactive practice drill.

TOP ESSENTIAL FRENCH VERBS:
Verb Category: 3rd Group (Irregular)
Compound Auxiliary: Auxiliary: avoir
Example Usage:

Je suis très heureux de vous rencontrer.

être (to be)
Subject Pronoun Conjugated Form

Interactive Practice: Test Your Verb Conjugation Skills

Conjugate the verb in the given tense:
ÊTRE (to be) Présent
je

Mastering French Verb Groups & Auxiliary Rules

French verbs are categorized into three main grammatical groups based on their infinitive endings and pattern regularity. Understanding these groups allows you to predict the conjugation of thousands of regular verbs.

1st Group (-er)

Contains ~90% of all French verbs (e.g., parler, aimer, manger). Extremely regular. Endings: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent. (Exception: aller is irregular 3rd group).

2nd Group (-ir)

Regular -ir verbs that take -iss- in plural present forms (e.g., finir → nous finissons, choisir → ils choisissent). Endings: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent.

3rd Group (Irregular)

Includes -re, -oir, and irregular -ir verbs (e.g., être, avoir, faire, prendre, venir). Must be memorized as they form the backbone of spoken French.

Compound Tenses Auxiliary Rule: Avoir vs. Être

Most French verbs form compound tenses (Passé Composé, Plus-que-parfait) with avoir. However, 17 specific verbs of motion and state change use être as their auxiliary, remembered by the mnemonic DR & MRS VANDERTRAMP (e.g., Devenir, Revenir, Monter, Rester, Sortir, Venir, Aller, Naître, Descendre, Entrer, Rentrer, Tomber, Retourner, Arriver, Mourir, Partir).

When using être as an auxiliary, the past participle must agree in gender (add 'e') and number (add 's') with the subject (e.g., Elle est allée).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important French verbs to memorize first?

The two most critical French verbs are être (to be) and avoir (to have), as they function both as main verbs and as auxiliaries for compound tenses. Next in priority are faire (to do/make), aller (to go), pouvoir (can), and vouloir (to want).

How do I know if a French verb is regular or irregular?

Verbs ending in -er (except aller) follow predictable rules (1st Group). Verbs ending in -ir that form plural present tense with -issons belong to the 2nd Group. All other verbs (-re, -oir, irregular -ir) belong to the 3rd Group and have irregular stem patterns.

When should I use Passé Composé vs. Imparfait?

Use Passé Composé for completed past actions with a specific timeframe (e.g., Hier, j'ai vu un film). Use Imparfait for ongoing past habits, descriptions, background info, or states of mind (e.g., Quand j'étais jeune, j'habitais à Paris).

What is the Subjunctive mood (Subjonctif) in French?

The Subjunctive is a grammatical mood used to express subjectivity, doubt, necessity, desire, or emotion (e.g., Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs). It is almost always preceded by que.

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