Verbs A. Infinitive: the name of the basic form of the verb. In English, it has “to” in front of it French verbs are grouped according to their infinitive.

Verbs

A. Infinitive: the name of the basic form of the verb. In English, it has “to” in front of it French verbs are grouped according to

their infinitive ending. There are 3 groups. We start with studying group 1 where all

the infinitives end in –er.• Name: “-er verbs” Only name

Infinitives

1. aimer – to like

2. parler-to speak

3. danser-to dance

4. chanter-to sing

5. nager- to swim

6. écouter-to listen to

7. manger-to eat

8. regarder-to look at, watch

téléphoner =to call

Example sentences:

J’aime la musique. s

v

obj.

I like music.

1. J’aime nager. S

V inf

(I like to swim.)2. J’aime chanter. S

V inf

(I like to sing.)

3. J’aime écouter la radio. S

V inf object

(I like to listen to the radio.)

4. J’aime regarder la télé(vision). S

V inf object

(I like to watch T.V.)

VERB PHRASES

1. a. parler + a language*français*anglais Note: with the expression, * espagnol it is one of the few times,

you * italien don’t use an article.

J’aime parler espagnol.J’aime parler anglais.

2. jouer + a sport

a. au tennis

b. au football

c. au basket

d. aux jeux vidéo

étudier—to study

travailler—to work

voyager-to travel

Our infinitives are composed of 2 parts:1. the stem2. the ending

ex. parler the ending *infintives are grouped according to their

ending “-er verbs”

parler the stem*all the letters of the infinitive without the last

two letters (e + r) (the ending)

Infinitive → aimer (to like)

Stem Ending

danser

(stem)(ending)

**How to conjugate a regular ‘-er’ verb

1. Write the skeleton verb chart of subject pronouns.

je (I) nous (we)

tu (you) vous (you)

il (he/it)elle (she/it)

ils (they [m/f])elles (they [f])

2. Take infinitive; that’s the title of conjugation chart.

3. Drop the –er ending. You are left with the stem. Insert the stem only into each of the 6 forms of the conjugation chart.

Note: Both infinitive and the conjugated verb have a stem and an ending. The stem for the infinitive and the conjugated verb are the same. The endings are different.

Ex. “To speak”

Parler

Drop –er ending from inf. Parler

You are left with “parl” stem.

Add “parl” infinitive stem into conjugation chart which now becomes the conjugated verb stem.

je parl nous parl

tu parl vous parl

il

elle parlils parlelles

je parle nous parlons

tu parles vous parlez

il

elle parleils parlentelles

3. Add appropriate conjugated verb ending for each form of conjugation chart.

1st person singular 1st person plural

2nd person singular 2nd person plural

3rd person singular 3rd person plural

Note: although different spellings, verb endings for the for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person singular forms and 3rd person plural forms all have the same sound.

Example sentences.S + V + Object noun

1. J’aime le français. S.P. V obj. (Remember, you always

need an article in French even though you don’t need one in English.)

2. J’aime l’ école.3. J’aime les vacances.4. J’aime la télé.5. J’aime la radio.

OR

S + V + infinitiveI like to do ….

RULE: Always conjugate first verb, second verb stays in infinitive form.

Ex. 1: Directions: 1. Copy French sentences into notebook and fill in the banks with the correct form of the verb in the parentheses.2. Then, translate the sentences into English.

1. Paul _________________ à Paris. (habiter)

2. Nous ______________ beaucoup. (étudier)

3. Ils ________ à sept heures le matin. (arriver)

4. Les sœurs et les frères _________________ au football à Providence. (jouer)

5. Vous ________________ très bien. (chanter)

6. Tu _______________ avec Jacqueline à sept heures moins le quart le soir. (manger)

7. Marie _______ au téléphone le samedi. (parler)

More –er verbs (set #2)

1. arriver – to arrive

2. donner—to give

3. fermer—to close

4. habiter—to live

9. trouver—to find

• 10. penser—to think

11. dîner—to dine, to have dinner

12. téléphoner à (name) —to telephone, to call (a person)

Ex. 2: Directions: Copy the English sentences into your notebook, and then translate into French.1. I like to swim.2. She speaks English and French.3. Marc dances on Fridays.4. The students work, and they study after

school.5. You (pl) arrive at school at 8:15 am.6. I eat with Jacques Thursdays at 7:45 pm.

Translations of verb in the present tense:

In French, present tense consists of only one word.

In English, present tense can have 3 possible translations. You are responsible for all 3 translations.

(FYI, You’re lucky! You don’t need to learn the subtleties of the language!)

Je chante.=

I sing.I am singing.I do sing.