-er verbs

1. -er verbs

2. In order to read and write in French, we need to be able to make sentences. Sentences in French are made up of the same elements as in English: • Noun – a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. • Pronoun – a word that takes the place of a noun. • Verb – an action word. A sentence must have at least a noun (or pronoun) and a verb!

3. Sentences can be written from 1 of 3 points of view: • 1st person: Used to talk about yourself. • 2nd person: Used to talk to someone else. • 3rd person: Used to talk about someone else.

4. There are 9 subject pronouns in French: singular plural nous = we je = I you vous = you tu = (1 person polite OR more than 1 person) (1 person, familiar) he ils = they il = (all males OR males and females) elle = she elles = they on*= one (all females) *On is an impersonal pronoun. Literally translated it means “one”. Sometimes it will also be translated as “they” or “we”. You will get used to it with time!

5. To put a verb in to a sentence in French, you must conjugate (or change it) to go with the subject. We do this a little bit in English: I jump. You jump. But: She jumps.

6. To conjugate a regular –er verb: • You drop off the –er at the end of the infinitive. ( the unconjugated form; also the form found in the dictionary) • This gives you the stem. • Then, you add the verb ending which matches the subject.

7. je –e tu – es il –e elle – e on - e nous – ons vous -ez ils –ent elles – ent Verb endings:

8. A conjugated verb chart looks like this: Parler = to speak

9. There are a few exceptions to the rule. (Quelle Surprise!)

10. je becomes j’ before a vowel: J’aime… J’adore… J’invite But: Je parle.

11. If a verb ends in –ger we add an -e before the nous ending –ons: Nous mangeons. Nous changeons. But, Vous changez.

12. Now, you are ready to start using sentences in French!