Verbs

A verb is a word used to describe something that happened, such as an action or state of being.

Infinitive

The infinite is a verb without a subject or tense. In English, it is usually "to _____". In French, all verbs end in -er, -ir, or -re in the infinitive.

parler (to talk)
finir (to finish)
entendre (to hear)

Most verbs are -er verbs. Many verbs that end in -er end in -ate in English (For example, the verb to donate is "donner"). Many verbs that end in -ir end in -ish in English (For example, the verb finir means to finish)

The infinitive is used in certain phrases in both English and French

Conjugating Verbs

To conjugate a verb means to change it so it can be used with a particular tense and subject. In French, most verbs are conjugated by taking off the -er, -ir, and -re and adding certain endings depending on the tense. However, some verbs do not work like and are irregular verbs.

Common irregular verbs

Here are twenty verbs that are used a lot, but aren't formed like regular -ER, -IR, or -RE verbs

aller (to go)
avoir (to have)
boire (to drink)
connaître (to know)
courir (to run)
devoir (to have to)
dire (to say, to tell)
dormir (to sleep)
écrire (to write)
être (to be)
faire (to do, to make)
lire (to read)
mentir (to lie)
mettre (to put, to turn on)
mourir (to die')
pouvoir (to be able to, can, may)
prendre (to take)
recevoir (to recieve)
savoir (to know)
venir (to come)
voir (to see)
vouloir (to want, to wish)