1. -er verbs

2. Noun – a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea.
In order to read and write in French, we need to be able to make sentences. Sentences in French are made up of the same elements as in English:
Noun – a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea.
Pronoun – a word that takes the place of a noun.
Verb – an action word.
A sentence must have at least a noun (or pronoun) and a verb!

3. Sentences can be written from 1 of 3 points of view:
1st person:
Used to talk about yourself.
2nd person:
Used to talk to someone else.
3rd person:
Used to talk about someone else.

4. There are 9 subject pronouns in French:
singular
plural
nous = we
je = I
you
vous =
you
tu =
(1 person polite OR more than 1 person)
(1 person, familiar) he
ils =
they
il =
(all males OR males and females)
elle =
she
elles =
they
on*=
one
(all females)
*On is an impersonal pronoun. Literally translated it means “one”. Sometimes it will also be translated as “they” or “we”. You will get used to it with time!

5. We do this a little bit in English:
To put a verb in to a sentence in French, you must conjugate (or change it) to go with the subject.
We do this a little bit in English:
I jump. You jump.
But: She jumps.

6. To conjugate a regular –er verb:
You drop off the –er at the end of the infinitive. ( the unconjugated form; also the form found in the dictionary)
This gives you the stem.
Then, you add the verb ending which matches the subject.

7. Verb endings: je –e tu – es il –e elle – e on - e nous – ons vous -ez
ils –ent
elles – ent

8. A conjugated verb chart looks like this:
Parler = to speak
Je parle
Nous parlons
Tu parles
Vous parlez Il
Elle parle On
Ils parlent
Elles parlent

9. There are a few exceptions to the rule. (Quelle Surprise!)

10. je becomes j’ before a vowel: J’aime… J’adore…
J’invite
But: Je parle.

11. If a verb ends in –ger we add an -e before the nous ending –ons:
Nous mangeons.
Nous changeons.
But, Vous changez.

12. Now, you are ready to start using sentences in French!