French -ER Verb Conjugation: A Complete Guide

French -ER verbs form the largest group of verbs in the French language. These verbs, known as first group verbs, end in -er in their infinitive form.

Understanding how to conjugate these verbs is crucial for anyone learning French.

The Basics of -ER Verb Conjugation

To conjugate an -ER verb, remove the -er ending from the infinitive to get the stem. Then, add the appropriate ending based on the tense and subject pronoun.

For example, with the verb "parler" (to speak):

• Stem: parl-
• Je parle (I speak)
• Tu parles (You speak)
• Il/Elle/On parle (He/She/One speaks)

Present Tense (Présent)

The present tense is used for actions happening now or habitual actions.

Endings: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent

Example with "aimer" (to love):

• J'aime
• Tu aimes
• Il/Elle/On aime
• Nous aimons
• Vous aimez
• Ils/Elles aiment

Imperfect Tense (Imparfait)

The imperfect tense describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past.

Endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient

Example with "danser" (to dance):

• Je dansais
• Tu dansais
• Il/Elle/On dansait
• Nous dansions
• Vous dansiez
• Ils/Elles dansaient

Future Simple (Futur Simple)

The future simple is used for actions that will happen in the future.

Endings: -erai, -eras, -era, -erons, -erez, -eront

Example with "chanter" (to sing):

• Je chanterai
• Tu chanteras
• Il/Elle/On chantera
• Nous chanterons
• Vous chanterez
• Ils/Elles chanteront

Conditional Present (Conditionnel Présent)

The conditional is used to express hypothetical situations or polite requests.

Endings: -erais, -erais, -erait, -erions, -eriez, -eraient

Example with "voyager" (to travel):

• Je voyagerais
• Tu voyagerais
• Il/Elle/On voyagerait
• Nous voyagerions
• Vous voyageriez
• Ils/Elles voyageraient

Subjunctive Present (Subjonctif Présent)

The subjunctive is used to express doubt, desire, or necessity.

Endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent

Example with "parler" (to speak):

• Que je parle
• Que tu parles
• Qu'il/elle/on parle
• Que nous parlions
• Que vous parliez
• Qu'ils/elles parlent

Imperative (Impératif)

The imperative is used for commands or requests.

Endings: -e, -ons, -ez

Example with "écouter" (to listen):

• Écoute !
• Écoutons !
• Écoutez !

Compound Tenses

Compound tenses use the auxiliary verb "avoir" (to have) or "être" (to be) plus the past participle of the main verb. For regular -ER verbs, the past participle is formed by adding -é to the stem.

Example: Passé Composé of "arriver" (to arrive)

• Je suis arrivé(e)
• Tu es arrivé(e)
• Il/Elle/On est arrivé(e)
• Nous sommes arrivé(e)s
• Vous êtes arrivé(e)(s)
• Ils/Elles sont arrivé(e)s

Practice Makes Perfect

To truly master -ER verb conjugations, regular practice is key. leçon.ai offers personalized exercises tailored to your level, helping you reinforce your understanding of French verb conjugations.

Conclusion

French -ER verb conjugation follows consistent patterns across various tenses. By learning these patterns and practicing regularly, you'll soon find yourself conjugating -ER verbs with ease.

Consistency is crucial in language learning, so keep practicing and don't hesitate to use these verbs in real conversations.