Find a regular infinitive and its stem
A dictionary lists a verb in its infinitive form, such as parler, to speak. For a regular verb in this group, remove the final er to find the stem, then add a present ending. This is a productive pattern, but membership must be checked. The very common verb aller ends with the same two letters and is irregular. Some verbs also change spelling to preserve a sound or mark a stem change. Start with transparent verbs such as parler, regarder, and travailler, then add the spelling variations after the basic person pattern feels familiar.
Je parle français.
I speak French.
The subject is the speaker, so the regular stem receives the first person singular ending. The language name follows without an article in this speaking construction. Retrieving the complete subject and verb group helps distinguish the conjugated form from the dictionary form.
Elle regarde le film.
She is watching the movie.
A regular third person singular subject takes this ending. The French present can describe an activity happening now without adding a separate helper for the English progressive translation. The identified movie takes its definite article independently of the verb ending.
References for this explanation
Keep the singular endings distinct in writing
For regular verbs in this group, je takes e, tu takes es, and il, elle, or on takes e. These endings often produce the same spoken verb form, which makes the subject especially important in listening. Writing still distinguishes them. Before a vowel or mute h, je elides: j’aime. The familiar subject tu does not undergo that standard written elision. Practice changing only the subject and ending while keeping the rest of the sentence fixed. This exposes agreement directly without adding new vocabulary or changing the intended activity at the same time.
Tu travailles ici.
You work here, addressing one familiar person.
The familiar singular subject requires its written ending even though the final consonant is silent. The location word does not affect conjugation. A useful check is to substitute the speaker subject and notice that the spelling would change while the sound may remain similar.
J’aime la musique.
I like music.
The verb takes the regular speaker ending, and the subject elides before its vowel. French uses the definite article for this general preference. Several separate decisions cooperate here: subject spelling, verb agreement, and the article pattern after a preference verb.
Follow a complete example
Build a sentence with this meaning: You work here, addressing one familiar person. Before looking at the answer, identify which information controls the grammatical choice.
- First, identify the message: You work here, addressing one familiar person. Keep that message fixed while comparing forms. A sentence can be grammatical yet communicate something different, so meaning is part of the decision.
- The familiar singular subject requires its written ending even though the final consonant is silent. The location word does not affect conjugation. A useful check is to substitute the speaker subject and notice that the spelling would change while the sound may remain similar.
- Now read the complete sentence, Tu travailles ici.. Check the words surrounding your choice as well as the choice itself. Explain what would change if the speaker, number, or intended message changed. Then cover this example and reconstruct the sentence from the English cue.
Tu travailles ici. You work here, addressing one familiar person.
Hear the clear plural endings
The endings for nous and vous are especially useful listening anchors: nous parlons and vous parlez. The first includes the speaker, while the second addresses several people or one person in a formal relationship. The ending for ils and elles is written ent but is normally silent in this present pattern. Do not pronounce it as a separate syllable. A noun subject can replace the pronoun: Les enfants regardent. Keep the full subject in view before selecting a form, since the nearest noun later in the sentence may be an object rather than the subject.
Nous parlons français.
We speak French.
The subject includes the speaker and other people, so the regular first person plural ending is required. This ending is audible and provides a useful contrast with the singular forms. The language named afterward does not affect the conjugation.
Vous travaillez à Lyon.
You work in Lyon.
The addressee subject takes its regular present ending whether it refers to one person formally or several people. The city is introduced with the appropriate location preposition. Number in the social situation does not change this particular verb form.
References for this explanation
Understand what the present communicates
French present tense can cover both a repeated activity and an activity happening now. Je travaille ici may mean I work here, while Je travaille maintenant means I am working now. The time expression and context clarify the reading. Do not add a conjugated form of être before the regular present form to imitate English am working. There are other French ways to emphasize an action in progress, but the ordinary present is enough for these beginner messages. It can also appear in other time contexts; this lesson focuses on current actions and familiar routines.
Ils regardent un film maintenant.
They are watching a movie now.
The plural subject takes the written third person plural ending, which is silent in this pattern. The time word establishes the current activity reading. French does not need an additional conjugated helper to match the English progressive translation.
Elle travaille ici chaque lundi.
She works here every Monday.
The regular singular form combines with a repeated time expression to describe a routine. The same verb form can also describe a current activity in another context. The difference in English translation comes from meaning and context, not a second French conjugation.
References for this explanation
Add negatives and questions around the finite verb
In a complete written negative, ne comes before the conjugated verb and pas follows it. Before a vowel, the first part becomes n’: Je n’aime pas le café. The article for a general preference remains definite in this construction. For an accessible question frame, put est-ce que before the subject and verb without changing their order. You can also use statement order with question intonation in conversation. Neither method introduces an equivalent of English do. First build the affirmative sentence accurately, then change its communicative function while preserving the subject’s ending.
Je ne travaille pas ici.
I do not work here.
The two negative elements surround the conjugated verb. The speaker subject still requires its usual present form; negation does not replace agreement. The place expression remains outside the negative frame and supplies the location being denied.
Est-ce que vous parlez français ?
Do you speak French?
The question frame leaves the subject and finite verb in their ordinary order. The addressee form still requires its regular ending. English do appears only in the translation, so there is no extra French helper to insert.
References for this explanation
Handle small spelling changes carefully
Some verbs preserve pronunciation with a small spelling adjustment. Manger keeps an extra e in nous mangeons so the consonant retains its usual soft sound. Commencer uses ç in nous commençons for the same broad purpose of preserving a consonant sound before o. These are spelling patterns within the present system, not permission to invent changes for every verb. Other verbs have stem changes, such as j’achète alongside nous achetons. Learn each new verb with a representative singular form and the first person plural, then consult a reliable conjugation source when the pattern is unfamiliar.
Nous mangeons ici.
We eat here.
The extra vowel preserves the consonant sound before the plural ending. The subject still uses the regular first person plural ending. This is a spelling adjustment inside the pattern, so the whole verb should be checked rather than treating the stem as mechanically unchangeable.
Nous commençons à neuf heures.
We start at nine o’clock.
The cedilla preserves the intended consonant sound before the vowel of the plural ending. The time phrase tells when the activity begins and does not control agreement. Retain the accent mark as part of the correct native spelling.
Try the reasoning with less help
Build a sentence with this meaning: We eat here. Before looking at the answer, identify which information controls the grammatical choice.
- First, identify the message: We eat here. Keep that message fixed while comparing forms. A sentence can be grammatical yet communicate something different, so meaning is part of the decision.
- The extra vowel preserves the consonant sound before the plural ending. The subject still uses the regular first person plural ending. This is a spelling adjustment inside the pattern, so the whole verb should be checked rather than treating the stem as mechanically unchangeable.
- Now read the complete sentence, Nous mangeons ici.. Check the words surrounding your choice as well as the choice itself. Explain what would change if the speaker, number, or intended message changed. Then cover this example and reconstruct the sentence from the English cue.
Compare your reasoning
Nous mangeons ici. We eat here.
References for this explanation
Connect verbs to the phrases they need
Conjugating a verb correctly is only one part of a sentence. French écouter takes a direct object where English listen normally takes to: J’écoute la radio. A city after a location expression commonly takes à, while countries follow other preposition patterns. A second verb may appear as an infinitive after another verb, but that is different from leaving the only verb unconjugated. Learn short complete constructions, then vary one element at a time. For independent practice, write a routine, turn it negative, and ask another person about it before checking the model or selecting an answer.
J’écoute la radio.
I listen to the radio.
The speaker subject elides before the vowel, and the verb takes its regular present ending. French connects this verb directly to its object, without importing the English preposition from listen to. The complete construction therefore matters as much as the ending.
Elles parlent français.
They speak French, referring to women.
The feminine plural subject takes the same verb ending as the masculine plural subject. Gender distinguishes the pronoun but does not create a separate present conjugation. The final written ending remains silent in this regular verb pattern.
Notice the difference
Common mistakes
Do not copy English progressive grammar
Instead ofJe suis travaille.
For this meaningJe travaille.
The ordinary present can express I am working. Adding a finite form of the verb for being before another finite verb does not create the English progressive in French. Use context or a time expression to clarify the intended present meaning, and learn any later emphasis construction as its own complete pattern.
Silent endings still matter
Instead ofTu parle français.
For this meaningTu parles français.
The familiar singular subject requires its written ending. Several regular present forms sound alike, so pronunciation alone cannot verify their spelling. Identify the subject first and retrieve its ending. When reviewing, compare this sentence with the speaker and third person singular forms to make the invisible distinction visible.
Preserve the consonant sound
Instead ofNous mangons.
For this meaningNous mangeons.
This verb needs the additional vowel before the first person plural ending to preserve its soft consonant sound. The person ending is regular, but the spelling of the complete form needs attention. Learning a verb through both a singular example and its first person plural helps expose this kind of variation early.
From understanding to using
Make your own example.
Try these without answer choices. Say your answer aloud or write it below, then compare your reasoning with the model.
Your turn 1
Write two sentences about your routine: you work in Paris and you listen to the radio.
Compare with a model
Je travaille à Paris. J’écoute la radio.
I work in Paris. I listen to the radio.
Both verbs use the regular speaker ending, but the second subject elides because the verb begins with a vowel. The city phrase uses a location preposition, while the listening verb connects directly to its object. The English translation contains to before the radio, but French does not copy it. Change both subjects to we and explain the new ending before consulting a conjugation table.
- Did you preserve the requested meaning?
- Does the form match the person or noun in your message?
- Can you explain your choice before looking at the model?
Your turn 2
Ask several people whether they speak French, then say that you do not work here.
Compare with a model
Est-ce que vous parlez français ? Je ne travaille pas ici.
Do you speak French? I do not work here.
The question frame preserves the order of the addressee subject and its finite verb. In the second sentence, the negative elements surround the speaker form. These transformations change whether the sentence asks or denies something, but they do not remove the need for a conjugated ending. Read both sentences aloud and then reconstruct them from the English cues without looking at the models.
- Did you preserve the requested meaning?
- Does the form match the person or noun in your message?
- Can you explain your choice before looking at the model?
Put it into practice
Make the next choice.
Choose a response and learn why it works. Your score reflects your first answer to each question. You can revisit anything you miss.
Choose an answer, then open the explanation to check your reasoning.
Question 1
Complete the sentence for this meaning: I speak French.
Je ___ français.
- parle
- parler
Check the answer
Answer: parle
parle: The subject is the speaker, so the regular stem receives the first person singular ending. The language name follows without an article in this speaking construction. Retrieving the complete subject and verb group helps distinguish the conjugated form from the dictionary form.
parler: This is the infinitive. An ordinary statement with this subject needs a conjugated present form rather than the dictionary form.
Question 2
Complete the sentence for this meaning: She is watching the movie.
Elle ___ le film.
- regardes
- regarde
Check the answer
Answer: regarde
regardes: That written ending belongs with familiar singular you. Similar pronunciation does not make the spellings interchangeable.
regarde: A regular third person singular subject takes this ending. The French present can describe an activity happening now without adding a separate helper for the English progressive translation. The identified movie takes its definite article independently of the verb ending.
Question 3
Complete the sentence for this meaning: You work here, addressing one familiar person.
Tu ___ ici.
- travailles
- travaille
Check the answer
Answer: travailles
travailles: The familiar singular subject requires its written ending even though the final consonant is silent. The location word does not affect conjugation. A useful check is to substitute the speaker subject and notice that the spelling would change while the sound may remain similar.
travaille: That spelling fits the speaker or a third person singular subject. It does not carry the required familiar singular ending.
Question 4
Complete the sentence for this meaning: I like music.
J’___ la musique.
- aimes
- aime
Check the answer
Answer: aime
aimes: The ending with written s belongs with familiar singular you. Elision of the speaker subject does not change its grammatical person.
aime: The verb takes the regular speaker ending, and the subject elides before its vowel. French uses the definite article for this general preference. Several separate decisions cooperate here: subject spelling, verb agreement, and the article pattern after a preference verb.
Question 5
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We speak French.
Nous ___ français.
- parlons
- parlez
Check the answer
Answer: parlons
parlons: The subject includes the speaker and other people, so the regular first person plural ending is required. This ending is audible and provides a useful contrast with the singular forms. The language named afterward does not affect the conjugation.
parlez: This ending belongs with the addressee form for formal singular or plural you, not with the subject meaning we.
Question 6
Complete the sentence for this meaning: You work in Lyon.
Vous ___ à Lyon.
- travaillons
- travaillez
Check the answer
Answer: travaillez
travaillons: That ending belongs with the subject meaning we. It would change who is presented as doing the work.
travaillez: The addressee subject takes its regular present ending whether it refers to one person formally or several people. The city is introduced with the appropriate location preposition. Number in the social situation does not change this particular verb form.
Question 7
Complete the sentence for this meaning: They are watching a movie now.
Ils ___ un film maintenant.
- regardent
- sont regardent
Check the answer
Answer: regardent
regardent: The plural subject takes the written third person plural ending, which is silent in this pattern. The time word establishes the current activity reading. French does not need an additional conjugated helper to match the English progressive translation.
sont regardent: This incorrectly stacks two finite verbs to imitate English. The ordinary French present already expresses the requested current activity.
Question 8
Complete the sentence for this meaning: She works here every Monday.
Elle ___ ici chaque lundi.
- travailler
- travaille
Check the answer
Answer: travaille
travailler: The infinitive cannot serve as the finite verb of this ordinary statement. The subject requires a conjugated present form.
travaille: The regular singular form combines with a repeated time expression to describe a routine. The same verb form can also describe a current activity in another context. The difference in English translation comes from meaning and context, not a second French conjugation.
Question 9
Complete the sentence for this meaning: I do not work here.
Je ___ ici.
- ne travaille pas
- travaille ne pas
Check the answer
Answer: ne travaille pas
ne travaille pas: The two negative elements surround the conjugated verb. The speaker subject still requires its usual present form; negation does not replace agreement. The place expression remains outside the negative frame and supplies the location being denied.
travaille ne pas: The first negative element must precede the finite verb. It cannot follow it in this standard written pattern.
Question 10
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Do you speak French?
Est-ce que vous ___ français ?
- parler
- parlez
Check the answer
Answer: parlez
parler: The question frame does not turn the verb into an infinitive. Person agreement is still required inside the question.
parlez: The question frame leaves the subject and finite verb in their ordinary order. The addressee form still requires its regular ending. English do appears only in the translation, so there is no extra French helper to insert.
Question 11
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We eat here.
Nous ___ ici.
- mangeons
- mangons
Check the answer
Answer: mangeons
mangeons: The extra vowel preserves the consonant sound before the plural ending. The subject still uses the regular first person plural ending. This is a spelling adjustment inside the pattern, so the whole verb should be checked rather than treating the stem as mechanically unchangeable.
mangons: Without the additional vowel, the written consonant would suggest a different sound. This verb requires the spelling that preserves its soft consonant.
Question 12
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We start at nine o’clock.
Nous ___ à neuf heures.
- commencons
- commençons
Check the answer
Answer: commençons
commencons: The plain consonant before this vowel would indicate the wrong sound. The cedilla is required in this conjugated form.
commençons: The cedilla preserves the intended consonant sound before the vowel of the plural ending. The time phrase tells when the activity begins and does not control agreement. Retain the accent mark as part of the correct native spelling.
Question 13
Complete the sentence for this meaning: I listen to the radio.
J’___ la radio.
- écoute
- écoutes
Check the answer
Answer: écoute
écoute: The speaker subject elides before the vowel, and the verb takes its regular present ending. French connects this verb directly to its object, without importing the English preposition from listen to. The complete construction therefore matters as much as the ending.
écoutes: This ending would belong with familiar singular you. The elided subject remains first person singular and requires its own form.
Question 14
Complete the sentence for this meaning: They speak French, referring to women.
Elles ___ français.
- parlons
- parlent
Check the answer
Answer: parlent
parlons: This ending belongs with the subject meaning we. Feminine gender does not turn a third person plural subject into first person.
parlent: The feminine plural subject takes the same verb ending as the masculine plural subject. Gender distinguishes the pronoun but does not create a separate present conjugation. The final written ending remains silent in this regular verb pattern.
Keep the conversation going
What to practice next
Return to the production tasks after a break. Reconstruct your sentences without the models, compare the meaning and form, and repair any error by explaining its cause. Then use one sentence in a short exchange of your own.
Sources and editorial notes
By Loquus ·
Source checked with AI assistance
These original explanations synthesize the cited sources. They have not been certified by an independent human language specialist. Regional usage and context are described where they affect the answer. Report a correction in the discussion below.
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Regular er verbs
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Er verbs with spelling changes
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Aller
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Subject pronouns
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Basic negation
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Yes or no questions
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Definite articles
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Indefinite articles
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Introduction to prepositions
- University of Texas, Tex’s French Grammar: Geographic prepositions
Learning research behind the practice
Worked examples, retrieval practice, and later review inform the activities. These studies do not establish the effectiveness of this specific lesson.
- Karpicke and Roediger: The critical importance of retrieval for learning
- Butler and Roediger: Feedback enhances the positive effects and reduces the negative effects of multiple choice testing
- Institute of Education Sciences: Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning
- Rittle Johnson and Star: Compared to what?