-ER Verbs in French
When conjugating verbs in French, we have to follow specific rules.
First, you have to identify in which group the verb belongs. The groups are divided in the following categories:
- The 1st group are the verbs ending in the letters -er in the infinitive form
- The 2nd group are all of the verbs ending in -ir in the infinitive form
- The 3rd group are those verbs who don’t belong to the first two groups, also known as irregular verbs. These verbs change both the radical and ending.
Most verbs in French end in -ER and belong to the first group.
Once you have identified which group your verb belongs to, you have to find its subject. Once you have determined the subject of the verb, you will know which pronoun ending to use.
-ER Conjugation Tip: The verb to love (aimer) is the model of all the -er verbs.
How to Conjugate -ER verbs in French
Pronouns | Imparfait | Passé composé | Présent | Futur proche | Futur simple |
Je (I) | aimais | ai aimé | aime | vais aimer | aimerai |
Tu (you) | aimais | as aimé | aimes | vas aimer | aimeras |
Il/elle/on (He/she/ it/ we) | aimait | a aimé | aime | va aimer | aimera |
Nous (we) | aimions | avons aimé | aimons | allons aimer | aimerons |
Vous (you) | aimiez | avez aimé | aimez | allez aimer | aimerez |
Ils/elles (they) | aimaient | ont aimé | aiment | vont aimer | aimeront |
Pronouns | Présent | Futur proche | Futur simple |
Je (I) | aime | vais aimer | aimerai |
Tu (you) | aimes | vas aimer | aimeras |
Il/elle/on (He/she/ it/ we) | aime | va aimer | aimera |
Nous (we) | aimons | allons aimer | aimerons |
Vous (you) | aimez | allez aimer | aimerez |
Ils/elles (they) | aiment | vont aimer | aimeront |
Pronouns | Imparfait | Passé composé |
Je (I) | aimais | ai aimé |
Tu (you) | aimais | as aimé |
Il/elle/on (He/she/ it/ we) | aimait | a aimé |
Nous (we) | aimions | avons aimé |
Vous (you) | aimiez | avez aimé |
Ils/elles (they) | aimaient | ont aimé |
Conjugate -ER verbs in French: Irregular Verbs and Other Irregularities
1. manger takes an -e before the -ons and commencer takes a -ç before the -ons at the 1st person plural to keep the appropriate pronunciation.
Example: Nous mangeons; Nous commençons
2. At the passé composé, some verbs need the auxiliary verb to be ( être) instead of the auxiliary verb to have (avoir).
3. When using the auxiliary verb être, the past participle takes the genre and the number of the subject.
Example: Elles sont tombées
Irregular -ER Verbs in French
Although the verb aller ends in -er, it does not belong to the first group. Because both its ending and its radical change, it is considered an irregular verb.
Here is a list of some of the most common -er verbs:
- Parler (to talk)
- Demander (to ask)
- Trouver (to find)
- Manger ( to eat)
- Rester (to stay)
- Porter (to wear)
- Montrer (to show)
- Penser (to think)
- Passer (to pass)
- Commencer (to start)
- Jouer ( to play)
- Travailler (to work)
- Regarder (to look)
- Écouter (to listen)
Printable Grammar Worksheets: -ER Verb Conjugation in French
Now that you have learned about the conjugation of the -er verbs, you can test your knowledge with the following worksheets.
