Conjugations

Why and How to make them work

• We start learning verbs in their infinitive forms. In English, almost all infinitives have the word “to” in front of them.

• Remember, of course, that verbs are “action” words.– Examples: To be or not to be, to run, to play,

to call, to see, to dance, to walk.

• Some infinitives don’t have “to” in front.– Examples: Can (to be able), Should (to have

the responsibility)

** These are still verbs! **

In French…

• Infinitives are one word. The “to” is included.

• You can’t go around saying “I to run, he to run”.

• Conjugating = changing the endings of infinitives so they make sense with each pronoun.

• I run, but he runs.

Steps for Conjugation

1. List all the pronouns2. Add the stem to each one3. Add appropriate endings

To conjugate, we take the ending off the infinitive. What’s left is the stem.

Ex) Parler - er = parlEx) Apprendre - re = apprend

STEM!! Important!

ER, IR, and RE verbs have a set of endings for all of their examples

• All regular –ER verbs have the endings

• -E, -ES, -E, -ONS, -EZ, -ENT

• So…

• Je– Parl

• Tu-parl

• Il-parl

• Nous-parl

• Vous-parl

• Ils-parl

e

e

es

ons

ez

ent

I speak, I am speaking

You speak, you are speaking

He speaks

We speak

You (all) speak

They speak

PARLER – to speak