Verbs in -ER (part 1) - 20 Essential Verbs
Les verbes en -er (1er groupe), partie 1
The most regular and most numerous group
⚡Key points
-er → -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent→first-group endings
Stem = infinitive minus -er→parler → parl-
-e, -es, -e, -ent are silent→je/tu/il/ils sound the same
~90% of verbs→the biggest, most regular group
Les verbes du 1er groupe (-er)
Verbs whose infinitive ends in -er form the 1st group: parler, aimer, habiter, travailler… It is the most regular group. Remove -er to get the stem, then add the endings.
parler (to speak) — present
| je | parle | I speak |
| tu | parles | you speak |
| il / elle / on | parle | he / she speaks |
| nous | parlons | we speak |
| vous | parlez | you speak |
| ils / elles | parlent | they speak |
How to conjugate
1
1. Find the stem
parler → parl-
aimer → aim-
habiter → habit-
2
2. Add the endings
-e, -es, -e (singular)
-ons (nous), -ez (vous)
-ent (ils / elles)
💡🔊 Four forms sound the same
The endings -e, -es, -e and -ent are silent: je parle, tu parles, il parle, ils parlent all sound identical. You hear the difference only with nous (-ons) and vous (-ez).
je parle = tu parles = il parle = ils parlent (when spoken)
nous parlons (you hear -ons)
vous parlez (you hear -ez)
Dialogue: languages
NinaTu parles français ?
MarcOui, je parle français et un peu russe. Nous étudions à Paris.
NinaVous habitez à Paris ?
MarcOui, et mes amis travaillent ici aussi.
Nina: Do you speak French? | Marc: Yes, I speak French and a little Russian. We study in Paris. | Nina: Do you live in Paris? | Marc: Yes, and my friends work here too.
Des verbes en -er très fréquents
Here are useful everyday 1st-group verbs. They all conjugate like parler.
- aimer — to like / to love
- habiter — to live (somewhere)
- travailler — to work
- regarder — to watch / look at
- écouter — to listen (to)
- manger — to eat
- chanter, danser, jouer — to sing, to dance, to play
aimer (to like/love) — present
| j’ | aime | I like — j’ before a vowel |
| tu | aimes | you like |
| il / elle / on | aime | he / she likes |
| nous | aimons | we like |
| vous | aimez | you like |
| ils / elles | aiment | they like |