Group 1 Regular French Verbs ending in "ER" (Present Tense)

Summary

This lesson explains how to conjugate regular first-group French verbs ending in -ER in the present tense. The instructor breaks down the process, starting with the verb stem by dropping the -ER ending and adding specific endings like -e, -es, -ons, and -ent, depending on the subject pronoun. Key exceptions, such as verbs ending in -GER and -CER, are also covered, with slight changes in the conjugation to maintain pronunciation. The lesson emphasizes that in French, the present tense is simpler as it doesn't distinguish between 'I sing' and 'I am singing.'

Takeaways

• 😀 French verbs are categorized into three groups: ER, IR, and irregular verbs.
• 📚 ER verbs are regular verbs and follow a specific pattern for conjugation in the present tense.
• 🔄 To conjugate an ER verb, drop the ER ending to find the verb stem and then add specific endings.
• 📝 For 'je', add 'e', for 'tu', add 'es', for 'il/elle/on', add 'e'.
• 👥 For 'nous', add 'ons', for 'vous', add 'ez', and for 'ils/elles', add 'ent'.
• ❌ In French, there is no 'I am singing' (no ING form). Instead, use the present tense form 'I sing'.
• 🎤 Example: Conjugating 'chanter' (to sing): 'je chante', 'tu chantes', 'il chante', 'nous chantons', 'vous chantez', 'ils chantent'.
• 🔡 Verbs ending with -ger, like 'manger', retain the 'e' before 'ons' in 'nous' form to keep the soft sound.
• 🔤 Verbs ending in -cer, like 'commencer', add a cedilla (ç) in the 'nous' form to keep the soft 'c' sound.
• 💡 Regular ER verbs follow the same conjugation pattern, except for minor changes in spelling for certain verbs like 'manger' and 'commencer'.

Q & A

What are the three main groups of French verbs?

The three main groups of French verbs are ER verbs, IR verbs, and irregular verbs (including RE verbs).

What is an infinitive verb in French?

An infinitive verb in French is a verb that has not yet been conjugated. It typically ends in ER, IR, or RE.

How do you conjugate a regular ER verb in the present tense?

To conjugate a regular ER verb in the present tense, you drop the ER from the infinitive form to get the stem and then add the appropriate endings: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.

What is the conjugation of the verb 'chanter' (to sing) in the present tense?

The conjugation of 'chanter' in the present tense is: je chante, tu chantes, il/elle/on chante, nous chantons, vous chantez, ils/elles chantent.

Why is there no equivalent of the English 'I am singing' in French?

In French, there is no continuous form like 'I am singing.' Instead, the present tense 'je chante' is used, which can mean both 'I sing' and 'I am singing.'

What is a notable exception when conjugating regular verbs that end in -CER and -GER?

For verbs ending in -CER and -GER, the spelling slightly changes in the 'nous' form to preserve pronunciation. For -CER verbs, a cedilla (ç) is added before the -ons (nous commençons), and for -GER verbs, an 'e' is kept (nous mangeons).

How do you conjugate the verb 'manger' (to eat) in the present tense?

The conjugation of 'manger' in the present tense is: je mange, tu manges, il/elle/on mange, nous mangeons, vous mangez, ils/elles mangent.

What is the purpose of adding a cedilla (ç) in verbs like 'commencer'?

The cedilla (ç) is added in verbs like 'commencer' before an 'a' or 'o' in order to keep the soft 's' sound of the letter 'c.' For example, 'nous commençons' preserves the soft 's' sound.

What is the key rule for conjugating regular verbs in the present tense?

The key rule for conjugating regular ER verbs in the present tense is to drop the ER from the infinitive form and add the endings: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.

What advice does the instructor give for practicing French verb conjugation?

The instructor suggests practicing conjugation by taking a list of regular French verbs ending in ER and trying to conjugate them, as well as putting them into sentences.