I can conjugate any -er verb in all six persons, write j' before a vowel, and avoid mistakes in the five groups where the stem changes in writing.
One table for hundreds of verbs
One table for hundreds of verbs
Almost all French verbs end in -er, and they all change the same way. Learn one table and you have hundreds of verbs.
Drop the -er: parler gives the stem parl-, habiter gives the stem habit-. Six endings go on the stem: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.
The endings -e, -es, and -ent are silent: je parle, tu parles, ils parlent sound the same. Only -ons and -ez are heard. In writing, the ending is required.
Before a vowel or h muet, je becomes j': j'habite, j'étudie, j'aime. It's not optional, and a space instead of the apostrophe is a mistake. When nous or vous comes before a vowel, you hear [z]: nous_habitons, vous_étudiez.
Five groups change the stem in writing:
• -ger: nous mangeons — the e keeps the sound [ʒ] before o;
• -cer: nous commençons — the cédille keeps the sound [s] before o;
• e → è: j'achète, ils achètent, but nous achetons;
• é → è: je préfère, but nous préférons;
• double consonant: j'appelle, ils appellent, but nous appelons.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “je parl” → je parle: always write the ending.
• NOT “je habite” → j'habite.
• NOT “nous mangons” → nous mangeons.
• NOT “nous commencons” → nous commençons.
• NOT “nous appellons” → nous appelons.
• NOT “Je suis habite à Lyon” → J'habite à Lyon (“I'm living” is also j'habite).
One table for hundreds of verbs
The endings -e, -es, and -ent are silent; you only hear -ons and -ez.
| Person | parler | habiter |
|---|---|---|
| je | parle | j'habite |
| tu | parles | habites |
| il, elle | parle | habite |
| nous | parlons | habitons |
| vous | parlez | habitez |
| ils, elles | parlent | habitent |
Five groups where the stem changes in writing
One rule, but the stem changes in writing: for -ger and -cer verbs in the nous form, for the others everywhere except nous and vous.
| Group | je | nous |
|---|---|---|
| -ger | je mange | nous mangeons |
| -cer | je commence | nous commençons |
| e → è | j'achète | nous achetons |
| é → è | je préfère | nous préférons |
| double letter | j'appelle | nous appelons |
Lesson notes
One table for hundreds of verbs
Almost all French verbs end in -er, and they all change the same way. Learn one table and you have hundreds of verbs.
Drop the -er: parler gives the stem parl-, habiter gives the stem habit-. Six endings go on the stem: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.
The endings -e, -es, and -ent are silent: je parle, tu parles, ils parlent sound the same. Only -ons and -ez are heard. In writing, the ending is required.
Before a vowel or h muet, je becomes j': j'habite, j'étudie, j'aime. It's not optional, and a space instead of the apostrophe is a mistake. When nous or vous comes before a vowel, you hear [z]: nous_habitons, vous_étudiez.
Five groups change the stem in writing:
• -ger: nous mangeons — the e keeps the sound [ʒ] before o;
• -cer: nous commençons — the cédille keeps the sound [s] before o;
• e → è: j'achète, ils achètent, but nous achetons;
• é → è: je préfère, but nous préférons;
• double consonant: j'appelle, ils appellent, but nous appelons.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “je parl” → je parle: always write the ending.
• NOT “je habite” → j'habite.
• NOT “nous mangons” → nous mangeons.
• NOT “nous commencons” → nous commençons.
• NOT “nous appellons” → nous appelons.
• NOT “Je suis habite à Lyon” → J'habite à Lyon (“I'm living” is also j'habite).