Smoking a regular verb “cigar”: the –er version

The keys to putting together what you want to say!

So where do I start?

Start with what you already know Put the parts together Make them match

So what do you already know?

First, the people…

je/j’ tu il/elle

nous vous ils/elles

Then the action…

manger chanter danser parler regarder jouer

téléphoner nager étudier travailler voyager dîner écouter

And a few more new ones…

aimer habiter inviter organiser visiter

to like to live to invite to organize to visit (place)

It’s like smoking a cigar…

The person “smoking” the “cigar” is the one doing the activity

To smoke the cigar you have to take off the end

Then you have to add the right match

Why do you have to take off the end of the “cigar” (verb)?

That part won’t “smoke” The –er is what means “to (activity)” For example: travailler = to work

So what’s the end of the “cigar” (verb)?

The –er! So if your “cigar” (verb) is manger … Drop the -er

Why the “right” match?Only the right match will light the cigar (verb) and make it work je/j’ → -e tu → -es il/elle → -e

nous → -ons vous → -ez ils/elles → -ent

“Cigar” #1: parler

je parle tu parles il/elle parle

Nous parlons Vous parlez Ils/elles parlent

“Cigar” #2: téléphoner

je téléphone tu téléphones il/elle téléphone

nous téléphonons vous téléphonez ils/elles téléphonent

“Cigar” #3: étudier

j’étudie tu étudies il/elle étudie

nous étudions vous étudiez ils/elles étudient

But what am I actually saying?

For each conjugation you can be saying one of three things

Ex: dîner [and translation(s)]

je dîne →

tu dînes→

il/elle dîne→

I eat dinner or I do eat dinner or I am eating dinner

you eat dinner or you do eat dinner or you’re eating dinner

he/she eats dinner or he/she does eat dinner or he/she is eating dinner

Ex: dîner, cont.

nous dînons →

vous dînez →

ils/elles dînent →

We eat dinner or we do eat dinner or we’re eating dinner

you eat dinner or you do eat dinner or you’re eating dinner

They eat dinner or they do eat dinner or they’re eating dinner

Recap: How to “smoke” an –er verb cigar

Remember who is “smoking” the cigar (je/j’, tu, il/elle, nous vous, ils/elles)

Remember which cigar they are trying to smoke (the activity they’re doing)

Take off the original end Add the right match at the end Enjoy your cigar (activity)!

But wait! What about negatives?

Go back to what you already know Start the same way as before Add in the “negative twins” ne … pas

around the verb

Negative “cigar”: jouer

je joue → je ne joue pas tu joues → tu ne joues pas il/elle joue → il/elle ne joue pas nous jouons → nous ne jouons pas vous jouez → vous ne jouez pas ils/elles jouent → ils/elles ne jouent pas

And now…

Happy conjugating!