Regular -IR Verbs in the Present Tense

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French verbs are divided into three groups based on their infinitive ending. This page covers the regular -IR verbs in the present tense. The -ER verbs and a third, more varied group encompassing -RE, -OIR and other endings follow their own patterns, covered in separate pages.

This page covers the regular -IR pattern, sometimes called the second group. A distinct subgroup, including partir, sortir, dormir and servir, follows a different pattern altogether and is covered on its own page.

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The pattern

Every regular -IR verb follows the same logic. Take the infinitive, identify the stem, and add the present tense ending for each person.

The three steps

1. Start with the infinitive: finir
2. The -ir part is the infinitive ending. Everything before it is the stem: fin-
3. Drop the -ir ending and add the present tense ending for each person

Verbe 1 sur 2

finir

← Précédent ↻ Rejouer Suivant →

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Here are a few examples in context. The verb ending is highlighted in each sentence.

Je finis mon travail vers 17h30.

Nous choisissons toujours le même restaurant.

Léa choisit toujours son dessert préféré : le tiramisu.

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One point to know

The singular sounds identical, the plural doesn’t

The three singular forms sound identical: je finis, tu finis, il finit are all pronounced the same way. The plural forms are clearly distinct, thanks to the -iss- that appears before the ending: nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent.