Present-tense decision guide
Before you conjugate, decide which system the verb uses.
- Look at the infinitive. Is it être, avoir, aller, or faire?
- If not, identify the family: -ER, finir-pattern -IR, or vendre-pattern -RE.
- Find the subject pronoun.
- Apply the correct pattern or recall the Core Verb form.
- Reread the sentence — does it make sense?
Core Verbs — memory verbs
These four do not share one regular ending chart. Recall each form: être, avoir, aller, faire.
- être — to be
- avoir — to have
- aller — to go
- faire — to do / to make
Regular families — ending snapshots
- Regular -ER (parler): -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent
- Regular -IR (finir): -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
- Regular -RE (vendre): -s, -s, no ending, -ons, -ez, -ent
Verbs like prendre, partir, dormir, and ouvrir use other patterns — not mixed in this lesson.
Plural -ons: nous parlons, nous finissons, and nous vendons all use -ons, but the stem and pattern still differ — classify first, then conjugate.