1. Verbes en -er
H.M. Boddy

2. Infinitive
The form of the verb we find in the dictionary is called the “infinitive”.

3. Infinitive This is expressed in English by “to …”,
e.g. to play, to think,
to sing

4. Infinitive
In French the most common regular verb in the infinitive is the –er verb,
e.g. jouer = to play

5. Present tense
This expresses an action which is happening at the present time.
Je joue = I am playing /
I play

6. To form the present tense
Subject pronoun
+ the stem
+ the appropriate ending

7. Subject pronouns je = I tu = you (sing.) il = he/it elle = she/it
on = one
nous = we
vous = you (pl./sing polite)
ils = they (m,m+f)
elles =they(f)

8. The stem
In –er verbs the stem is formed by removing the –er.
jou er

9. The Endings je = -e tu = -es il = -e elle = -e on = -e nous = -ons
vous = -ez
ils = -ent
elles = -ent

10. jouer – to play nous jou vous jou ils jou elles jou ons ez ent je jou
tu jou
il jou
elle jou
on jou e es

11. chanter – to sing nous chant vous chant ils chant elles chant ons ez
ent
je chant
tu chant
il chant
elle chant
on chant e es

12. aimer – to like/love nous aim vous aim ils aim elles aim ons ez ent
j’aim
tu aim
il aim
elle aim
on aim e es