A-level French/Verbs

A verb is a word used to describe something that happened, such as an action or state of being.

Infinitive
The infinite is a verb without a subject or tense. In English, it is usually "to _____". In French, all infinitives end in -er, -ir, or -re.


 * parler (to talk)
 * finir (to finish)
 * entendre (to hear)

Most verbs are -er verbs. Many verbs that end in -er end in -ate in English (for example, the verb to donate is "donner"). Many verbs that end in -ir end in -ish in English (for example, the verb finir means to finish).

The infinitive is used in certain phrases in both English and French.

Conjugating Verbs
To conjugate a verb means to change it so it can be used with a particular tense and subject. In French, most verbs are conjugated by taking off the -er, -ir, and -re and adding certain endings depending on the tense. However, some verbs do not work like and are irregular verbs.

Common irregular verbs
Here are twenty verbs that are used a lot, but are not formed like regular -er, -ir, or -re verbs:
 * aller (to go)
 * avoir (to have)
 * boire (to drink)
 * connaître (to know)
 * courir (to run)
 * devoir (to have to)
 * dire (to say, to tell)
 * dormir (to sleep)
 * écrire (to write)
 * être (to be)
 * faire (to do, to make)
 * lire (to read)
 * mentir (to lie)
 * mettre (to put, to turn on)
 * mourir (to die)
 * pouvoir (to be able to, can, may)
 * prendre (to take)
 * recevoir (to receive)
 * savoir (to know)
 * venir (to come)
 * voir (to see)
 * vouloir (to want, to wish)