Un 4.1
Regular -er Verbs
Regular -er verbs, traditionally known as 1st group verbs (verbes du premier groupe), represent the largest grouping of verbs based on conjugation pattern. For each of these verbs, the conjugation can be predicted based on the -er conjugation pattern. Here, we will focus on the conjugation pattern used for the present tense.
Regular -er Verbs – Les verbes réguliers en -er
In the present tense, conjugation of regular -er verbs requires two steps:
1) the removal of the ending ‘-er’
2) the addition of the correct present tense ending. This depends on the corresponding subject.
e.g.
|
-er |
|||
|
je |
-e |
nous |
-ons |
|
tu |
-es |
vous |
-ez |
|
il elle on |
-e |
ils elles |
-ent |
|
parler |
|||
|
je |
parle |
nous |
parlons |
|
tu |
parles |
vous |
parlez |
|
il elle on |
parle |
ils elles |
parlent |
The pronunciation of ‘parle’, ‘parles’, ‘parle’ and ‘parlent’ are identical and, thus, differentiating them in speech relies on other indicators, typically the subject of the verb.
e.g.
|
Je parle français. |
I speak French. / I’m speaking French. |
|
Les filles parlent français. |
The girls speak French. / The girls are speaking French. |
The verb ‘aller’ is the only verb ending in -er that is not a member of the -er verb group.
