1. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-1 The infinitives of most French verbs end in -er. To form the present tense of regular -er verbs, drop the -er from the infinitive and add the corresponding endings for the different subject pronouns. This chart demonstrates how to conjugate regular -er verbs.

2. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-2 Here are some other verbs that are conjugated the same way as parler.

3. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-3 Note that je becomes j’ when it appears before a verb that begins with a vowel sound. With the verbs adorer, aimer, and détester, use the definite article before a noun to tell what someone loves, what someone likes, or what someone hates.

4. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-4 Use infinitive forms after the verbs adorer, aimer, and détester to say that you like (or hate, etc.) to do something. Only the first verb should be conjugated.

5. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-5 The present tense in French can be translated in different ways in English. The English equivalent for a sentence depends on its context.

6. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-6 Verbs ending in -ger (manger, partager, voyager) and -cer (commencer) have a spelling change in the nous form.

7. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-7 Unlike the English to look for, the French chercher requires no preposition before the noun that follows it.

8. © 2010 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.3.1-8 Essayez! Complete the sentences with the correct present tense forms of the verbs. 1.Je ________ (parler) français en classe. 2.Nous ________ (habiter) près de (near) l’université. 3.Ils ________ (aimer) le cours de sciences politiques. 4.Vous ________ (manger) en classe?! 5.Le cours ________ (commencer) à huit heures (at eight o’clock). 6.Marie-Claire ________ (chercher) un stylo. 7.Nous ________ (partager) un crayon en cours de maths. 8.Tu ________ (étudier) l’économie. parle