French Grammar
French irregular verbs ending in -re
The groups, the everyday verbs, the key tenses and the key pointsIrregular verbs ending in -re
Hundreds of French verbs have an infinitive ending in -re. The biggest group is made up of verbs that are conjugated on the same model as the verb vendre. See Group 3 verbs.The principal verbs in this group are attendre,
confondre, correspondre, défendre , dépendre, descendre,
détendre, entendre , étendre, fendre, fondre , mordre,
pendre, perdre, prétendre, rendre, répandre,
répondre, suspendre, tendre , tordre , vendre and verbs based on these.
Some grammars class these as irregular verbs, others do not. There are also some other groups of irregular verbs ending in -re.
1. Verbs ending in-uire
The principal verbs in this group are conduire construire, cuire,
déduire, détruire, induire, instruire, interdire,
introduire, nuire, produire, réduire,
reproduire, séduire, traduire
Sample verb conduire| Present tense: | Singular | Plural |
| 1st | Je conduis | Nous conduisons |
| 2nd | Tu conduis | Vous conduisez |
| 3rd | Il conduit | Ils conduisent |
Other tenses Future: Je conduirai. Preterite: Je conduisis. Perfect: J'ai conduit. Imperfect: Je conduisais
2. Verbs ending in-aindre, -eindre or -oindre
The principal verbs in this group are atteindre, contraindre, craindre,
dépeindre, éteindre, feindre, joindre, peindre,
plaindre, rejoindre, restreindre, teindre
Sample verb craindrePoint to note : Add a g in present tense plural, preterite and imperfect.
| Present tense: | Singular | Plural |
| 1st | Je crains | Nous craignons |
| 2nd | Tu crains | Vous craignez |
| 3rd | Il craint | Ils craignent |
3. Verbs like mettre
The principal verbs in this group are battre, abattre, combattre, mettre, permettre,
promettre, emettre, omettre
Sample verb mettrePoint to note : Just a single t in present tense singular
| Present tense: | Singular | Plural |
| 1st | Je mets | Nous mettons |
| 2nd | Tu mets | Vous mettez |
| 3rd | Il met | Ils mettent |
4. Verbs like prendre
The principal verbs in this group are prendre, apprendre, comprendre, entreprendre,
surprendre
Sample verb prendrePoints to note : No t in 3rd person sing. present.
Double the n before a silent ending starting with e.
| Present tense: | Singular | Plural |
| 1st | Je prends | Nous prenons |
| 2nd | Tu prends | Vous prenez |
| 3rd | Il prend | Ils prennent |
5. Verbs like connaître
The principal verbs in this group
are paraître,
disparaître, connaître,
reconnaître (but not
naître)
Sample verb connaîtrePoint to note: The i has a circumflex before t
| Present tense: | Singular | Plural |
| 1st | Je connais | Nous connaissons |
| 2nd | Tu connais | Vous connaissez |
| 3rd | Il connaît | Ils connaissent |
Other verbs:
This irregular verb guide presents the main forms of the main irregular verb classes that need to be mastered by the student of French.Other verbs and other tenses need to be mastered as and when they are encountered or required.
For the full conjugation of any French irregular verbs, About-France.com recommends Les-verbes.com► Return to : The 12 key irregular verbs
► Continue to Irregular verbs 3: Irregular verbs ending in -er-ir
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► Continue to Irregular verbs 3: Irregular verbs ending in -er-ir
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