FR I -Semestres I&II.KDS Les verbes réguliers au présent

LES VERBES RÉGULIERS EN -ER

PARLER

 A. Verbes en -er

Here are the verb conjugations in one column 

                                  je parle

                                  tu parles

                     il/ elle/ on parle

                              nous parlons

                              vous parlez

                        ils/ elles parlent
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Here are the verb conjugations in a table. Included are the infinitive parler (to speak) and the past participle parlé (spoken) and the present participle parlant (speaking). For the time being, ignore the present participle - you'll learn that later in French 3, 4 and/or IB Standard. Just be aware that it exists!
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Infinitif		Participe au passé		Participe au présent
parler		parlé		parlant
		Singulier		Pluriel
Temps	1er personne	je j’	parle	nous	parlons
présent	2ème personne	tu	parles	vous	parlez
	3ème personne	il ils *on	parle	ils elles	parlent

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Here is the equivalent verb in English. Notice that I use the "thou" form. Even though it's no longer in daily use, it can still be heard in church or at the theater.  The pronoun "it" in English has nothing to do with the pronoun "on". The pronoun "on" has the same property as the "universal you" in English, it also can replace the word "we". On parle français can translate as "we all speak French here."
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Infinitive		Past Participle		Present Participle
to speak		spoken		speaking
		Singular		Plural
Tense	1er personne	I	speak	we	speak
simple present	2ème personne	thou*	speakest* *archaic	you	speak
	3ème personne	he she it	speaks	they	speak

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Here is the same verb in Spanish for our bilingual students. French and Spanish are Romance Languages. They come from the same family. Notice the similarities and the differences.
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Infinitivo		Participe au passé		Participe au présent
hablar		hablado		hablando
		Singulier		Pluriel
Temps	1er personne	yo	hablo	nosotros nosotras	hablamos
présent	2ème personne	tú	hablas	vosotros vosotras	habláis
	3ème personne	él ella usted	habla	ellos ellas ustedes	hablan

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The pronoun "usted" with its plural "ustedes" has nothing to do with the English "it" and the French "on". When you want to be formal in Spanish, you address the person you are showing respect in the third person. The English do this a little when they address somebody very important like the Queen "Your majesty...". The Americans say "Will your honor permit me...." when addressing a judge in court. In Spanish it is very much in use, especially with people you do not know.

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So, let's look at the verb endings one more time for -ER. We'll use a different verb this time. The verb "chanter" to sing:
      

                                  je chante

                                  tu chantes

                     il/ elle/ on chante

                              nous chantons

                              vous chantez

                        ils/ elles chantent

VERB TABLES

TROUBLESHOOTING QUESTION: How come some of the regular verbs are irregular?

ANSWER:     Some regular verbs have irregularities. This may sound a bit like an oxymoron, but logically it makes sense if explained. Spelling changes occur in verbs whose conjugation will potentially conflict with the sound/spelling system of the language. Yes, as illogical and chaotic as the spelling systems of French and English appear to the eye, there ARE logical spelling systems in both languages! 

The rule that C before I or E is pronounced like an S exists in both French and English. Apple's iTunes really breaks the rule when it says your music library is "syncing" (should be spelled synquing or at least syncquing).  Thus the C in commenCer is pronounced like an S.  The French adjust the C in nous commençons with a cedille (the squiggle symbol under the C in FranÇais) so the C doesn't make the word sound like the C in cat.

Another French spelling rule is that G is pronounced like the G in imaGine before I or E (we have this rule to a certain extent in English). It is impossible to conjugate the verb manger without compromising the integrity of the word. The first person plural, if spelled "mangons" would turn its G into the G sound in English "Gun". That will not do! The French therefore add an E to soften the G into the imaGine sound: nous mangeons. Other verbs like this: nous nageons, nous partageons, etc.

TROUBLESHOOTING Q: Why does "préférer have accents pointing in different directions?


ANSWER: There are three "Es" in French. The open e or é with the accent aigu (pointing northeast); the closed e or è with the accent grave (pointing northwest) and the neutral, sometimes silent e (without any accent). The open syllable, aigu accented é in je préfère is almost pronounced like the English a in pray, while the closed syllable, grave accent è in je préfère is pronounced like the American English e in egg. /pray-fer/ The nous and vous form of the verb shows that the é's are pronounced with open syllables /pray-fay-'rõ/&/pray-fay-'ray/

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B. Verbes en -ir

Here are the verb conjugations in one column 

                                  je finis

                                  tu finis

                     il/ elle/ on finit

                              nous finissons

                              vous finissez

                        ils/ elles finissent

Here are the -IR verb conjugations in a table. Included are the infinitive finir (to speak) and the past participle fini (spoken) and the present participle finissant (speaking). Hang in there!
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Infinitif		Participe au passé		Participe au présent
finir		fini		finissant
		Singulier		Pluriel
Temps	1er personne	je j’	finis	nous	finissons
présent	2ème personne	tu	finis	vous	finissez
	3ème personne	il ils *on	finit	ils elles	finissent

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C. Verbes en -re

Here are the verb conjugations in one column 

                                  je vend (no ending)

                                  tu vends

                     il/ elle/ on vend (no ending)

                              nous vendons

                              vous vendez

                        ils/ elles vendent

Here are the -IR verb conjugations in a table. Included are the infinitive finir (to speak) and the past participle fini (spoken) and the present participle finissant (speaking). Hang in there!
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Infinitif		Participe au passé		Participe au présent
vendre		vendu		vendant
		Singulier		Pluriel
Temps	1er personne	je j’	vends	nous	vendons
présent	2ème personne	tu	vends	vous	vendez
	3ème personne	il ils *on	vend	ils elles	vendent

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