Verbs and subject pronouns

Verbs are the pivot around which a sentence turns. So finding the verb is key to analysing a sentence. There are several techniques to help with this. The first is based on word endings. Verbs in French are marked for number, person and tense. Let us begin by looking at the most frequent conjugation, that of verbs whose infinitive ends in -er. We will begin with the present tense and we will include the personal pronouns associated with each person and number. (More on pronouns below.)

The pronouns in the table above (je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles) are called subject personal pronouns. That is, they give the subject of a sentence. In French, they are only found in close association with a conjugated verb, so they provide another clue to the existence of a verb.

It is also worth noting that unlike English, French can use the same form to express both the habitual and the progressive perspective. So, ils chantent can allude to the fact that some group has a habit of singing regularly, or that they are singing just now. So appropriate translations include: they sing and they are singing. In French, it is the context which indicates which perspective is being used.

Verb cognates

As in the case of nouns, a number of French verbs are cognates of English verbs, so in reading French, you should always look for potential relations of the sort. Sometimes there are small but systematic variations between the two languages, as the following table illustrates:

Here is a list of cognates among -er verbs in French. Mouse over the words to check their English equivalents.

"abandonner", "abhorer", "absorber", "abuser", "accepter", "accumuler", "acidifier", "activer", "adapter", "administrer", "admirer", "adopter", "adorer", "ajourner", "alarmer", "alerter", "aligner", "amalgamer", "américaniser", "amplifier", "amputer", "angliciser", "animer", "annexer", "annihiler", "annoter", "annuler", "anticiper", "appliquer", "appointer", "apprécier", "appréhender", "approcher", "approprier", "approuver", "arguer", "armer", "arrêter", "arriver", "asphyxier", "aspirer", "assembler", "assimiler", "assumer", "attacher", "attaquer", "attribuer", "augmenter", "autoriser", "baptiser", "bénéficier", "blâmer", "bloquer", "bombarder", "boxer", "brosser", "calculer", "chanter", "codifier", "coexister", "colorier", "combiner", "commander", "commercialiser", "communiquer", "comparer", "complimenter", "composer", "concocter", "confesser", "confirmer", "conforter", "congratuler", "conserver", "consister", "conspirer", "constituer", "consumer", "contaminer", "contempler", "contester", "continuer", "contribuer", "contrôler", "coordonner", "copier", "crier", "cultiver", "danser", "décaféiner", "décapiter", "décider", "déclarer", "décoder", "décomposer", "décorer", "déformer", "démilitariser", "démonétiser", "déprécier", "désappointer", "désarmer", "déshonorer", "désinfecter", "désintoxiquer", "désirer", "désorganiser", "désorienter", "détacher", "détecter", "détériorer", "déterminer", "détester", "dévaluer", "développer", "dévier", "dévorer", "dialoguer", "dicter", "différencier", "diminuer", "dîner", "discerner", "discontinuer", "discuter", "disloquer", "disperser", "disputer", "disqualifier", "dissiper", "distiller", "distinguer", "distribuer", "diversifier", "diviser", "documenter", "domestiquer", "dominer", "doubler", "douter", "éjecter", "électrifier", "électrocuter", "éliminer", "embarquer", "embarasser", "empoisonner", "encercler", "enchanter", "encoder", "endurer", "enregistrer", "enrôler", "entrer", "envelopper", "équiper", "estimer", "étudier", "européaniser", "évaluer", "évaporer", "évoluer", "excommunier", "excuser", "exécuter", "exempter", "exempter", "exfolier", "exhumer", "exhiler", "exister", "exorciser", "expérimenter", "expliquer", "exploiter", "explorer", "exploser", "exposer", "exproprier", "fabriquer", "falsifier", "familiariser", "fasciner", "fatiguer", "favoriser", "féminiser", "fermenter", "fertiliser", "filmer", "flatter", "flirter", "fonctionner", "fonder", "formaliser", "former", "formuler", "fortifier", "fossiliser", "fracturer", "fragmenter", "fréquenter", "frustrer", "galoper", "garder", "généraliser", "glorifier", "gouverner", "grouper", "guider", "handicaper", "harmoniser", "hésiter", "honorer", "hospitaliser", "humaniser", "humidifier", "humilier", "identifier", "illustrer", "imaginer", "immobiliser", "immortaliser", "immuniser", "implanter", "implorer", "importer", "imposer", "improviser", "inaugurer", "inciter", "incliner", "incorporer", "incriminer", "indexer", "indiquer", "individualiser", "infecter", "infiltrer", "inhaler", "injecter", "insister", "inspecter", "inspirer", "installer", "institutionnaliser", "intensifier", "intercepter", "intéresser", "internationaliser", "interviewer", "intimider", "intoxiquer", "inventer", "inviter", "irradier", "irriter", "justifier", "juxtaposer", "kidnapper", "lamenter", "légaliser", "libéraliser", "liber", "limiter", "liquider", "lister", "localiser", "lyncher", "masquer", "massacrer", "mécaniser", "mériter", "mesurer", "métamorphoser", "militariser", "miniaturiser", "moderniser", "momifier", "monopoliser", "moraliser", "nationaliser", "naturaliser", "naviguer", "négocier", "neutraliser", "normaliser", "notifier", "observer", "occuper", "officialiser", "opposer", "oppresser", "orchestrer", "organiser", "orienter", "osciller", "pacifier", "paginer", "paniquer", "parader", "paralyser", "paraphraser", "pardonner", "parfumer", "parodier", "pasteuriser", "pasticher", "patrouiller", "pédaler", "pénaliser", "perfectionner", "perforer", "permuter", "perpétuer", "persécuter", "persister", "personnaliser", "personnifier", "persuader", "perturber", "pétrifier", "philosopher", "photocopier", "photographier", "piller", "piloter", "pirater", "pisser", "pivoter", "planter", "plâtrer", "polariser", "politiser", "polluer", "pomper", "ponctuer", "populariser", "postdater", "pratiquer", "précipiter", "prédestiner", "prédéterminer", "préexister", "préfigurer", "préméditer", "préoccuper", "préparer", "présider", "presser", "présumer", "présupposer", "privatiser", "procréer", "procurer", "professer", "programmer", "prohiber", "pronostiquer", "prophétiser", "proposer", "protester", "prouver", "provoquer", "psychanalyser", "publier", "pulvériser", "purifier", "quadrupler", "qualifier", "raconter", "radicaliser", "raffiner", "raisonner", "ranimer", "rapatrier", "rarefier", "rassurer", "ratifier", "rationaliser", "rationner", "réajuster", "recommander", "refuser", "regretter", "reposer", "représenter", "réserver", "résister", "respecter", "saboter", "sacrifier", "saliver", "sanctifier", "sanctionner", "scarifier", "scintiller", "séparer", "séquestrer", "shooter", "signaler", "signer", "simplifier", "simuler", "skier", "slalomer", "snober", "sodomiser", "solidifier", "spécialiser", "spécifier", "sprinter", "stabiliser", "stagner", "standardiser", "stériliser", "stigmatiser", "stimuler", "stocker", "stopper", "stresser", "structurer", "stupéfier", "subdiviser", "subsister", "substituer", "suffoquer", "suggestionner", "superviser", "supporter", "supposer", "suspecter", "symboliser", "synchroniser", "systématiser", "tanner", "taxer", "téléphoner", "terrifier", "terroriser", "tester", "titrer", "torturer", "tourmenter", "tourner", "transcender", "transfigurer", "transformer", "transgresser", "transplanter", "transposer", "traumatiser", "trembler", "triompher", "tripler", "trotter", "troubler", "truster", "unifier", "urbaniser", "uriner", "utiliser", "vacciner", "valider", "varier", "ventiler", "vérifier", "versifier", "vexer", "vibrer", "visiter", "visualiser", "vitrifier", "vocaliser", "vulcaniser", "zigzaguer"

French-English false friends (faux amis)

As we noted earlier, there are, however, cases where the two languages have words of the same form, but quite different meanings. Here is a list of some verbs like this. Mouse over the list to see the differences in meaning.

"murmurer", "postuler", "présenter", "ramper", "rater", "remarquer", "rester", "retirer", "soliciter", "stationner", "supporter", "tabler", "tamponner", "taper", "tirer", "torcher", "toucher", "tranquilliser", "transpirer", "trépasser", "user", "vaporiser", "ventiler", "verser"

In fact, the situation can be more complex, as the meaning can sometimes be the same between the two languages and sometimes different. Thus, remarquer can sometimes mean 'notice' and sometimes 'remark'. You should pay attention to the context for clues in cases like that.

Verbs and transitivity

As in English, French verbs vary depending on the number and type of arguments they can take. All verbs take a subject, even if it is impersonal, as we saw above with the use of pronouns, but different verbs may take different sorts of objects, or even no object at all, as the following table illustrates.

It is important to note that the argument structure of a verb may different between French and English, as the following table shows:

In both cases, French adds a preposition (à) not present in English.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that in language we sometime do not specify all objects. Some may be implicit, clear from the situation. Compare for example:

• Elle entre (She enters)
• Elle entre dans la chambre (She enters the room)
• Elle chante (She sings)
• Elle chante la chanson (She sings the song)

As you read, pay attention to the argument structure of the French verbs you come across.

Noun phrases and verbs

We saw earlier that verbs in French can take a pronoun as subject. They can also take noun phrases, as in:

• L'activité évolue.
• Une avalanche enveloppe les skieurs.
• Cette botaniste falsifie les documents.
• Ma cousine danse avec son partenaire.

Together, noun phrases and verbs allow us to begin to produce and understand entire sentences.

Irregular verbs

So far, we have seen the class of -er verbs. This is by far the largest class, with the most members, but it does not contain the most frequent verbs in French. Like many languages, French makes use of two means of storing information about words. On the one hand, much information is stored as simple rules, as in the case of the endings of -er verbs. Once you know the rule, you can apply it to any member of the class. On the other hand, frequently-recurring words seem to be stored directly in memory. This allows them to be retrieved quickly, but it also means that any irregularities are retained. As a result, the most frequent verbs in French are the most irregular. To read French, you must learn them, so some time spent on this now will pay dividends later.

We will begin by looking at the present tense of the five most frequent French irregular verbs: être ('to be'), avoir ('to have'), faire ('to do'), dire ('to say'), and aller ('to go').

Another verb conjugation: regular -ir verbs

We have seen how -er verbs work in the present tense. Now let's look at another conjugation, illustrated by the following table:

The clue in the case of verbs of this conjugation is the ending in -is or -it or -iss-. Here are some verbs of the most frequent verbs of this conjugation, in descending order of frequency. Mouse over them to check their meaning.

finir, agir, saisir, choisir, réussir, réfléchir, remplir, surgir, franchir, établir, envahir, réunir, fournir, accomplir, subir, grandir, obéir, jaillir, rougir, trahir, jouir, avertir, vieillir, unir, ralentir, guérir, bâtir

Some verbs in -oir

Although there are not many verbs in French ending in -oir, some of them are very frequent, so it is important to see how they are conjugated. Let us begin by looking at the following table of the most frequent forms. Notice that the singular forms end in -s, -t or -x. In the plural, look for the usual endings (-ons, -ez, -ent) and notice how the base form may change to include -eu- or -oi-.

Some verbs in -endre

Another important group of verbs consists of those ending in -re. Again, some of these are very frequent, so it is important to learn them. Consider the following table and notice of the most frequent forms. Notice that the singular forms end in -s, -t or zero, as in il comprend. In the plural, look for the usual endings (-ons, -ez, -ent). .

Summing up

You should now feel comfortable with the following concepts:

1. the meaning and use of subject personal pronouns
2. the conjugation of regular -er verbs in the present tense
3. the conjugation and use of some of the most frequent irregular verbs
4. the basic structure of -ir, -re and -oir verbs
5. the interpretation of short sentences combining noun phrases and verbs
6. strategies for finding verbs in sentences

You have also had the opportunity to take some informal quizzes to test your knowledge, and you will now have dealt with some short reading passages. Together, these things will have prepared you for the next step, the use of adjectives.