-ER Verbs

The last verb we learned, donner = to give, belongs to a large group of verbs known as -ER verbs. These verbs all have a similar pattern of conjugation, with a certain ending that corresponds with each subject pronoun that we have learned. If you learn these endings, you will be able to use hundreds of French verbs.

-ER Verb endings: These are the endings that go with each of the subject pronouns that you have learned. To put together the right verb for each subject, take off the -er from the infinitive and add the correct ending.

je -e
je donne = I give, I am giving

tu -es
tu donnes = you give, you are giving

il -e
il donne = he gives, he is giving

elle -e
elle donne = she gives, she is giving

nous -ons
nous donnons = we give, we are giving

vous -ez
vous donnez = you give, you are giving

ils -ent
ils donnent = they give, they are giving

elles -ent
elles donnent = they give, they are giving

Listen to the podcast to learn how to pronounce these verbs.

donner = to give

je donne = I give
tu donnes = you give
il donne = he gives
elle donne = she gives
nous donnons = we give
vous donnez = you give
ils donnent = they give
elles donnent = they give

All of these verbs describe an action in the present tense. They can all be translated in three ways like this:

I give, I am giving, I do give
you give, you are giving, you do give, etc.

Listen to the podcast to learn how to pronounce these verbs.

avoir = to have

The verb avoir describes having something. It is also used in many different expressions in French where different verbs might be used in English.

to have = avoir
I have = j’ai*
you have (singular) = tu as
he has = il a
she has = elle a
it has = il a or elle a
we have = nous avons
you have (plural) = vous avez
they have = ils ont or elles ont

*When the verb starts with a vowel, je drops the e and adds an apostrophe to make a contraction.

Listen to the podcast to learn how to pronounce these verbs.

être = to be

These are some of the most common words in French. Writing out the "being" words will help you to memorize them.

to be = être
I am = je suis
you are (singular) = tu es
he is = il est
she is = elle est
it is = il est or elle est
we are = nous sommes
you are (plural) = vous êtes
they are = ils sont or elles sont

Listen to the podcast to learn how to pronounce these verbs.

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