In this lesson, we will learn how to conjugate third-group verbs in the present tense, after we have already learned how to conjugate first-group verbs here and second-group verbs here. Each group of the third group verbs has different endings.
Third Group Verbs (Le troisième groupe):
These are verbs that end in (ir), (oir), or (re), such as:
| Servir | To serve |
| Sentir | To feel, smell |
| Dormir | To sleep |
| Partir | To |
| Sortir | To |
We will explore how to conjugate them in the present tense.
Firstly: Verbs ending in (ir):
1- These verbs are conjugated with singular pronouns (je - tu - il/elle) by removing the last letters. With plural pronouns (nous – vous – ils), only (ir) is removed, and the following endings are added:
| I | Je | s |
| You, singular informal | Tu | s |
| He / She | Il / Elle | t |
| We | Nous | ont |
| You, singular formal or plural | Vous | ez |
| They | Ils / Elles | ent |
Examples:
| Partir - To leave | |
| Je pars | I leave |
| Tu pars | You leave |
| Il / Elle part | He / She leaves |
| Nous partons | We leave |
| Vous partez | You leave |
| Ils / Elles partent | They leave |
I leave at 9 o'clock. Je pars à 9h.
2- There are some verbs in the third group that end in (ir) and take endings from the first group in the present. These verbs are:
| Cueillir | To pick/choose |
| Accueillir | To welcome |
| Recouvrir | To cover again |
| Couvrir | To cover |
| Souffrir | To suffer |
| Découvrir | To discover |
| Ouvrir | To open |
| Offrir | To offer |
They take the following endings:
| I | Je | e |
| You, singular informal | Tu | es |
| He / She | Il / Elle | e |
| We | Nous | ons |
| You, singular formal or plural | Vous | ez |
| They | Ils / Elles | ent |
Examples:
| Ouvrir - To open | |
| Je ouvre | I open |
| Tu ouvres | You open |
| Il / Elle ouvre | He / She opens |
| Nous ouvrons | We open |
| Vous ouvrez | You open |
| Ils / Elles ouvrent | They open |
J'ouvre le magasin à 8h. I open the store at 8 AM.
3- The verb 'mourir,' which means 'to die,' is conjugated by adding the basic endings (s, s, t, ons, ez, ent) but after changing the letter 'O' to 'E' with all pronouns except 'nous' and 'vous'.
| Mourir - To die | |
| Je meurs | I open |
| Tu meurs | You open |
| Il / Elle meurt | He / She opens |
| Nous mourons | We open |
| Vous mourez | You open |
| Ils / Elles meurent | They open |
4- Verbs ending in 'enir' are conjugated by removing 'enir' and adding the following endings:
| I | Je | iens |
| You, singular informal | Tu | iens |
| He / She | Il / Elle | ient |
| We | Nous | enons |
| You, singular formal or plural | Vous | enez |
| They | Ils / Elles | iennent |
From these verbs:
| Obtenir | To get |
| Souvenir | To remember |
| Prévenir | To notify |
| Revenir | To come back |
| Tenir | To hold |
| Convenir | To suit/agree |
| Devenir | To become |
| Venir | To come |
Examples:
| Venir - To come | |
| Je viens | I come |
| Tu viens | You come |
| Il / Elle vient | He / She comes |
| Nous venons | We come |
| Vous venez | You come |
| Ils / Elles viennent | They come |
Which country are you from? Tu viens de quel pays?
Secondly: verbs that end with (re):
1- Verbs ending in (dre) drop (re) and add the following endings:
| I | Je | e |
| You, singular informal | Tu | s |
| He / She | Il / Elle | ---- |
| We | Nous | ons |
| You, singular formal or plural | Vous | ez |
| They | Ils / Elles | ent |
And from these verbs:
| Descendre | To go down |
| Répondre | To answer |
| Attendre | To wait |
| Entendre | To hear |
| Coudre | To sew |
| Perdre | To lose |
| Vendre | To sell |
| Défendre | To defend |
| Répondre - To answer | |
| Je réponds | I answer |
| Tu réponds | You answer |
| Il / Elle répond | He / She answers |
| Nous répondons | We answer |
| Vous répondez | You answer |
| Ils / Elles répondent | They answer |
Note: The above rule applies to all verbs ending in "dre" except for the following verbs: "prendre" (to take), "apprendre" (to learn), "comprendre" (to understand). These verbs are conjugated by removing the last two letters "re" with singular pronouns (je, tu, il/elle) and by removing "dre" with plural pronouns (nous, vous, ils/elles). In the case of plural pronouns, you double the "n" and add the following endings:
| I | Je | e |
| You, singular informal | Tu | s |
| He / She | Il / Elle | ---- |
| We | Nous | ons |
| You, singular formal or plural | Vous | ez |
| They | Ils / Elles | nent |
Examples:
| Prendre - To take | |
| Je prends | I take |
| Tu prends | You take |
| Il / Elle prend | He / She takes |
| Nous prenons | We take |
| Vous prenez | You take |
| Ils / Elles prennent | They take |
Je prends le petit déjeuner. I have breakfast" or "I eat breakfast
2- Verbs ending in "aindre," "eindre," "oindre," and "soudre" like:
| Craindre | To fear |
| Peindre | To paint |
| Joindre | To join |
| Résoudre | To resolve |
They take the following endings, taking into account the differences in the conjugation of the verb stems
| I | Je | e |
| You, singular informal | Tu | s |
| He / She | Il / Elle | t |
| We | Nous | ons |
| You, singular formal or plural | Vous | ez |
| They | Ils / Elles | nent |
Examples:
| Joindre - To join | |
| Je joins | I join |
| Tu joins | You join |
| Il / Elle joint | He / She joins |
| Nous joignons | We join |
| Vous joignez | You join |
| Ils / Elles joignent | They join |
| Résoudre - To resolve | |
| Je résous | I resolve |
| Tu résous | You resolve |
| Il / Elle résout | He / She resolves |
| Nous résolvons | We resolve |
| Vous résolvez | You resolve |
| Ils / Elles résolvent | They resolve |
3- The verb 'vaincre' (to conquer, to overcome) has a special conjugation, and it is conjugated as follows:
| Vaincre - To win | |
| Je vaincs | I win |
| Tu vaincs | You win |
| Il / Elle vainct | He / She wins |
| Nous vainquons | We win |
| Vous vainquez | You win |
| Ils / Elles vainquent | They win |
Elle vainc le concourse. She wins the competition
4- The verb "aller" is a special verb in French and is categorized as belonging to the third group of verbs. It is irregular in its conjugation. Here's the conjugation for "aller" in the present tense:
| Aller - To go | |
| Je vais | I go |
| Tu vas | You go |
| Il / Elle va | He / She goes |
| Nous allons | We go |
| Vous allez | You go |
| Ils / Elles vont | They go |
Je vais au Canada en été . I'm going to Canada in the summer.
Thirdly, verbs ending in "oir" are all irregular verbs with no specific rule, and they must be memorized as they are.
| English | French | Je | Tu | Il - Elle | Nous | Vous | Ils - Elles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To have | Avoir | Ai | As | A | Avons | Avez | Ont |
| To receive | Recevoir | Reçois | Reçois | Reçoit | Recevons | Recevez | Reçoivent |
| To be able to / can | Pouvoir | Peux | Peux | Peut | Pouvons | Pouvez | Peuvent |
| To want | Vouloir | Veux | Veux | Veut | Voulons | Voulez | Veulent |
| To have to / must | Devoir | Dois | Dois | Doit | Devons | Devez | Doivent |
| To know | Savoir | Sais | Sais | Sait | Savons | Savez | Savent |
| To see | Voir | Vois | Vois | Voit | Voyons | Voyez | Voient |
Thus, we have completed the lesson on the present tense and learned how to conjugate verbs based on their groups.
If you have any questions or inquiries, feel free to write them in the comments, and I will be happy to respond.