Welcome to our comprehensive guide to the 50 most essential French verbs. By learning these verbs, you’ll vastly improve your French conversation skills and grammar understanding. In this guide, we will provide an in-depth explanation of each verb, its conjugation, and usage in various contexts. Let’s dive in and master these essential French verbs!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to French Verbs
2. The 50 Essential French Verbs
3. Regular Verbs: -ER, -IR, and -RE
4. Irregular Verbs: Common Patterns
5. Using French Verbs in Sentences
6. Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect

Introduction to French Verbs

French verbs are an essential component of the language, as they express actions, occurrences, and states of being. In order to communicate effectively in French, you must master the conjugation and usage of these verbs.

There are three main verb groups in French: regular -ER verbs, regular -IR verbs, and regular -RE verbs. Additionally, there are irregular verbs that do not follow the standard conjugation patterns. In this guide, we will focus on the 50 most essential French verbs, including both regular and irregular verbs.

The 50 Essential French Verbs

1. Être (to be)
2. Avoir (to have)
3. Aller (to go)
4. Faire (to do, to make)
5. Dire (to say, to tell)
6. Pouvoir (to be able to, can)
7. Vouloir (to want)
8. Savoir (to know)
9. Venir (to come)
10. Voir (to see)
11. Manger (to eat)
12. Prendre (to take)
13. Mettre (to put)
14. Trouver (to find)
15. Donner (to give)
16. Parler (to speak)
17. Aimer (to like, to love)
18. Attendre (to wait)
19. Croire (to believe)
20. Devoir (to have to, must)
21. Dormir (to sleep)
22. Écrire (to write)
23. Envoyer (to send)
24. Finir (to finish)
25. Lire (to read)
26. Ouvrir (to open)
27. Rire (to laugh)
28. Réussir (to succeed)
29. Sortir (to go out)
30. Tenir (to hold)
31. Vivre (to live)
32. Acheter (to buy)
33. Apprendre (to learn)
34. Boire (to drink)
35. Chanter (to sing)
36. Connaître (to know, to be familiar with)
37. Courir (to run)
38. Demander (to ask)
39. Écouter (to listen)
40. Entendre (to hear)
41. Espérer (to hope)
42. Fermer (to close)
43. Jouer (to play)
44. Monter (to climb)
45. Penser (to think)
46. Perdre (to lose)
47. Recevoir (to receive)
48. Rentrer (to return)
49. Sentir (to feel, to smell)
50. Travailler (to work)

Regular Verbs: -ER, -IR, and -RE

Regular verbs follow predictable conjugation patterns according to their verb group. Here is a brief overview of the conjugation rules for each group:

Regular -ER Verbs

To conjugate regular -ER verbs, remove the -ER ending and add the appropriate endings for each subject pronoun:

• Je: -e
• Tu: -es
• Il/Elle/On: -e
• Nous: -ons
• Vous: -ez
• Ils/Elles: -ent

Example: Parler (to speak)

• Je parle
• Tu parles
• Il/Elle/On parle
• Nous parlons
• Vous parlez
• Ils/Elles parlent

Regular -IR Verbs

To conjugate regular -IR verbs, remove the -IR ending and add the appropriate endings for each subject pronoun:

• Je: -is
• Tu: -is
• Il/Elle/On: -it
• Nous: -issons
• Vous: -issez
• Ils/Elles: -issent

Example: Finir (to finish)

• Je finis
• Tu finis
• Il/Elle/On finit
• Nous finissons
• Vous finissez
• Ils/Elles finissent

Regular -RE Verbs

To conjugate regular -RE verbs, remove the -RE ending and add the appropriate endings for each subject pronoun.

• Je: -s
• Tu: -s
• Il/Elle/On: (no ending)
• Nous: -ons
• Vous: -ez
• Ils/Elles: -ent

Example: Attendre (to wait)

• J’attends
• Tu attends
• Il/Elle/On attend
• Nous attendons
• Vous attendez
• Ils/Elles attendent

Irregular Verbs: Common Patterns

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard conjugation patterns of regular verbs. However, many irregular verbs share common patterns that can make them easier to learn. Here are some examples:

Être (to be) and Avoir (to have)

These two verbs are essential and highly irregular. Memorize their conjugations:

Être (to be):

• Je suis
• Tu es
• Il/Elle/On est
• Nous sommes
• Vous êtes
• Ils/Elles sont

Avoir (to have):

• J’ai
• Tu as
• Il/Elle/On a
• Nous avons
• Vous avez
• Ils/Elles ont

Verbs Ending in -OIR

Many irregular verbs ending in -OIR share a similar conjugation pattern:

• Devoir (to have to, must)
• Pouvoir (to be able to, can)
• Vouloir (to want)

Example: Devoir (to have to, must)

• Je dois
• Tu dois
• Il/Elle/On doit
• Nous devons
• Vous devez
• Ils/Elles doivent

Using French Verbs in Sentences

Now that you’ve learned the conjugation patterns for regular and irregular French verbs, let’s practice using them in sentences. Here are some examples:

1. Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.)
2. Nous avons deux chats. (We have two cats.)
3. Elle finit ses devoirs à 10 heures. (She finishes her homework at 10 o’clock.)
4. Ils veulent partir en vacances. (They want to go on vacation.)
5. Tu manges une pomme. (You eat an apple.)

Remember that practice makes perfect, so keep using these essential French verbs in various contexts to solidify your understanding.

Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect

Mastering the 50 essential French verbs is a crucial step in becoming fluent in the language. By learning their conjugation patterns and practicing them in sentences, you’ll greatly improve your French grammar and communication skills. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep using these verbs in your everyday conversations to truly master them. Bonne chance!