Regular -ir and -re Verbs
French Grammar 2
Chapter 3 · Regular -ir and -re Verbs
2️⃣ -ir and -re Verbs — Les verbes en -ir et en -re
French Grammar 2 2 covered the first group. Two more patterns remain among the verbs that are conjugated by rule: the -ir verbs and the -re verbs. The -ir verbs split into two very different kinds: those that insert -iss- in the plural (finir, the regular second group) and those that do not (partir, dormir, sortir, which belong to the third group). The -re verbs form a single pattern with a very simple rule: no ending in the il form. After this chapter you can conjugate several hundred verbs.
-ir verbs with -iss-: finir
| Pronoun | finir | choisir | réussir |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | je finis | je choisis | je réussis |
| tu | tu finis | tu choisis | tu réussis |
| il / elle / on | il finit | elle choisit | on réussit |
| nous | nous finissons | nous choisissons | nous réussissons |
| vous | vous finissez | vous choisissez | vous réussissez |
| ils / elles | ils finissent | elles choisissent | ils réussissent |
The group is large and productive. Many of its verbs come from adjectives: grand → grandir (grow), rouge → rougir (blush), gros → grossir (get fatter), maigre → maigrir (get thinner), vieux → vieillir (grow old).
| Other verbs in this group |
|---|
| obéir obey · réfléchir think, reflect · remplir fill · punir punish · agir act · réagir react · applaudir applaud · établir establish |
-ir verbs without -iss-: partir, dormir, sortir
This is a small, fixed family of the third group. The last consonant of the stem is dropped in the singular and returns in the plural, and the endings are -s, -s, -t:
| Pronoun | partir | dormir | sortir |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | je pars | je dors | je sors |
| tu | tu pars | tu dors | tu sors |
| il / elle / on | il part | elle dort | on sort |
| nous | nous partons | nous dormons | nous sortons |
| vous | vous partez | vous dormez | vous sortez |
| ils / elles | ils partent | elles dorment | ils sortent |
| Verbs conjugated like partir | Pattern in the singular |
|---|---|
| partir leave · sortir go out · dormir sleep · servir serve · sentir feel, smell · mentir lie | je pars, je sors, je dors, je sers, je sens, je mens |
How to tell which -ir verb you have
| Question | If yes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Does the nous form end in -issons? | finir type (second group) | nous finissons |
| Is it in the short list partir, sortir, dormir, servir, sentir, mentir? | partir type: drop the last stem consonant in the singular | je dors, nous dormons |
| Is it ouvrir, offrir, couvrir, souffrir? | takes the -er endings | j'ouvre |
| Anything else (venir, courir, mourir…)? | irregular: see French Grammar 2 5 | je viens |
There is no way to tell the finir type from the partir type by looking at the infinitive alone. As a rule of thumb, a new verb that you meet in -ir is far more likely to be the finir type, because that is the productive group, but check any verb you are unsure of in a dictionary.
-re verbs: attendre, vendre, répondre
In the singular the stem keeps its final d and takes -s, -s, and no ending at all for il / elle / on:
| Pronoun | attendre | vendre | répondre |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | j'attends | je vends | je réponds |
| tu | tu attends | tu vends | tu réponds |
| il / elle / on | il attend | elle vend | on répond |
| nous | nous attendons | nous vendons | nous répondons |
| vous | vous attendez | vous vendez | vous répondez |
| ils / elles | ils attendent | elles vendent | ils répondent |
| Other verbs conjugated like attendre |
|---|
| entendre hear · perdre lose · descendre go down · rendre give back · défendre defend, forbid · tendre hold out · répondre answer |
🗣️ In Use — En situation
Read these aloud and say whether each verb is the finir, partir or attendre type.
① Finishing time
② Leaving
③ Waiting
📋 Quick Reference — Aide-mémoire
| Type | Endings | Example |
|---|---|---|
| finir | -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent | je finis · nous finissons |
| partir | -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent (short stem) | je pars · nous partons |
| ouvrir | -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent | j'ouvre |
| attendre | -s, -s, —, -ons, -ez, -ent | j'attends · il attend |
✏️ Try It Yourself — Exercices
Say the answer first, then click to check.
1. Conjugate choisir in all six persons.
Show answer
je choisis, tu choisis, il choisit, nous choisissons, vous choisissez, ils choisissent.
2. Make an -ir verb from each adjective: grand, rouge, vieux.
Show answer
grandir, rougir, vieillir (all finir-type: il grandit, nous grandissons).
3. Conjugate partir in the singular and the plural of nous.
Show answer
je pars, tu pars, il part · nous partons (the t of the stem is missing in je pars and tu pars, but written in il part by the ending -t).
4. Say "I sleep, we sleep, they sleep" (dormir).
Show answer
je dors · nous dormons · ils dorment.
5. Which pattern: nous sortons · nous finissons · nous vendons?
Show answer
sortir: partir type · finir: finir type · vendre: attendre type. The -issons ending marks the finir type.
6. Conjugate ouvrir (je, nous, ils). Which endings does it use?
Show answer
j'ouvre, nous ouvrons, ils ouvrent: the endings of an -er verb.
7. Conjugate attendre in the singular.
Show answer
j'attends, tu attends, il attend (no ending in the third person).
8. Say "she sells books" and "they sell books".
Show answer
Elle vend des livres. Elles vendent des livres. (The d is silent in vend, sounded in vendent.)
9. Find the error: il finis · nous finons · je partes.
Show answer
il finit · nous finissons · je pars.
10. Find the error: il vends · j'ouvris la porte · ils répondent (which is correct?).
Show answer
il vend (no ending in the il form of -re verbs) · j'ouvre la porte (ouvrir takes -er endings in the present) · ils répondent is correct.