French verbs are grouped by their infinitive ending: -ER, -IR, or -RE. Each group follows its own set of endings in the present tense. Learn these three patterns and you can conjugate the vast majority of French verbs correctly — because over 90% of all French verbs belong to the -ER group alone, and every new verb coined in French automatically joins it.
Group 1 — -ER Verbs: The Pattern That Covers Almost Everything
-ER verbs use parler (to speak) as the model. Remove the -er to get the stem, then add these endings:
The je, tu, il, ils forms sound identical in speech — only spelling and context distinguish them. The -ent ending on ils/elles is always silent.
Watch for stem-change verbs within Group 1. The stem changes in some forms but the endings stay the same: acheter → j'achète, appeler → j'appelle, manger → nous mangeons (extra e to preserve the soft g), commencer → nous commençons (cédille to preserve the soft c).
Group 2 — Regular -IR Verbs: Spot the -iss-
Group 2 uses finir (to finish) as the model. The key marker is the -iss- infix that appears in the plural forms — if you see it, you have a Group 2 verb.
Common Group 2 verbs: choisir, réussir, grandir, obéir, remplir, bâtir, nourrir. If the plural form takes -issons/-issez/-issent, it is Group 2.
Warning: Not All -IR Verbs Are Group 2
Some common -IR verbs do NOT add -iss- and behave quite differently. These are Group 3 irregular -IR verbs and must be learnt individually:
The quick test: does the verb take -issons in the nous form? Group 2. If not, it is irregular and needs to be checked individually.
Group 3 — -RE Verbs
-RE verbs use vendre (to sell) as the model. Remove the -re to get the stem, then add these endings — note that the il/elle form takes no ending at all, just the bare stem.
Common regular -RE verbs: entendre, répondre, attendre, perdre, descendre, rendre. Irregular -RE verbs — prendre, mettre, connaître, suivre — have their own patterns and need to be checked separately.
The Irregular Verbs That Override Everything
A small set of high-frequency verbs follow no group pattern at all. These are the verbs you will use most often in writing and speech — they must be memorised as complete paradigms:
What to Do When You Encounter an Unknown Verb in the Exam
In a timed writing exam, you will occasionally need to conjugate a verb you are not sure about. Two quick checks reduce the risk of error:
This strategy keeps your response grammatically secure even when your vocabulary reaches beyond your most memorised conjugations — exactly the kind of exam-smart technique that protects your score at B1–B2 level.
How to Build Conjugation Fluency
Recognising a verb's group is only the first step — producing the correct form instantly under exam pressure is the real skill. That requires repeated active practice, not passive reading of tables.
Use the French Verb Conjugator to look up any verb's complete present tense table and compare it against the group patterns. When you are uncertain whether a verb is Group 2 or an irregular -IR verb, look up the nous form — the presence or absence of -issons tells you immediately which pattern applies.
