{"id":118525,"date":"2023-06-05T17:12:10","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T21:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/regular-french-ir-verbs\/"},"modified":"2025-02-17T08:48:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T13:48:05","slug":"regular-french-ir-verbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/regular-french-ir-verbs\/","title":{"rendered":"37 Regular -Ir Verbs in French and How to Use Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re serious about learning French, you need to learn how to conjugate verbs.Once you master conjugating them, you can start watching French movies<\/a>, reading French novels<\/a>, and even speaking French.<\/a><\/p>\n

So today I’m\u00a0going to break down one entire group\u00a0of French verbs for you: regular -ir<\/em> verbs.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Conjugation of -Ir<\/em> Verbs in the Past, Present and Future\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Present Tense<\/a><\/h3>\n

For all regular present tense verbs, there are basic endings you tack on to the stem, based on who’s performing the action described by the verb.<\/p>\n

Let’s use the verb b\u00e2tir<\/strong><\/em> (to build) as an example:<\/p>\n

The stem for any regular -ir<\/em> verb will be the infinitive (b\u00e2tir),\u00a0<\/em>with the –ir <\/i>removed. That leaves us with the stem:<\/p>\n

b\u00e2t-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that we have the stem, we add our present tense endings based on who’s performing\u00a0the action described by the verb:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Pronouns<\/th>Endings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Je (I)<\/td>-is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu (you)<\/td>-is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Il\/Elle (he\/she)<\/td>-it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nous (we)<\/td>-issons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vous (you formal)<\/td>-issez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ils\/elles (they)<\/td>-issent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

So we get the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>French Present Tense<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
I build<\/td>Je b\u00e2tis <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You build<\/td>Tu b\u00e2tis <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He\/She builds<\/td>Il\/Elle b\u00e2tit <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We build<\/td>Nous b\u00e2tissons <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You build<\/td>Vous b\u00e2tissez <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They build<\/td>Ils\/Elles b\u00e2tissent <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

And that will work for all of the regular -ir<\/em> verbs.<\/p>\n

Imperative Mood<\/a><\/h3>\n

Imperative mood is used to give commands to people. Let’s use the example of abolir<\/strong> <\/em> (to abolish) to show the three different forms of the imperative mood:<\/p>\n

There are\u00a0the\u00a0tu, nous\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0vous\u00a0<\/em>forms of the imperative mood. Depending on who you’re commanding or expressing a wish to, you will use one of these forms. Only, you won’t use the pronoun. Think of the English imperative: “Sit down!” “Make me coffee!” “Leave!”<\/p>\n

It’s the same idea, but with different conjugations depending on who you’re talking to:<\/p>\n

Endings<\/strong><\/p>\n

(tu) -is<\/strong>
\n(nous) -issons<\/strong>
\n(vous) -issez<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n

Notice that they’re the same as the present tense. So if we conjugate abolir<\/em>, we get:<\/p>\n

Abolis<\/strong> les chapeaux rouges ! <\/em>(Abolish red hats!)<\/p>\n

Abolissons<\/strong> les l\u00e9gumes verts ! <\/em>(Let’s abolish green vegetables!)<\/p>\n

Abolissez<\/strong> les devoirs ! <\/em>(Abolish homework!)<\/p>\n

This will work with any regular -ir<\/em> verbs.<\/p>\n

Perfect Tense<\/a><\/h3>\n

Since the perfect tense is a compound tense\u2014first made up of\u00a0avoir\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0\u00eatre\u00a0<\/em>conjugated to the subject in the present tense, plus what we like to call the “past participle,”\u2014it’s important to know both how to conjugate avoir\u00a0<\/i>and\u00a0\u00eatre,\u00a0<\/em>as well as what the past participles are for each verb.<\/p>\n

Let’s use gu\u00e9rir<\/strong> <\/em> (to cure\/heal) as an example:<\/p>\n

With any regular -ir<\/em> verb, you start with the stem (by removing the -ir<\/em> part) to find the past participle:<\/p>\n

So\u00a0gu\u00e9rir\u00a0<\/em>becomes\u00a0gu\u00e9r-\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Then, you add the ending for the past participle (which is the same no matter what your regular -ir<\/em> verb is): –i<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Which makes your past participle: gu\u00e9ri<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Then, whether you’re using the past participle for the perfect tense, or another compound tense, you place the past participle after the conjugated verb, like so:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>French Perfect Tense<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
I healed<\/td>J'ai gu\u00e9ri <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You healed<\/td>Tu as\u00a0gu\u00e9ri <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He\/She healed<\/td>Il\/Elle a\u00a0gu\u00e9ri <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We healed<\/td>Nous avons\u00a0gu\u00e9ri <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You healed<\/td>Vous avez\u00a0gu\u00e9ri <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They healed<\/td>Ils\/Elles ont\u00a0gu\u00e9ri <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

You can also think of this as simply cutting off the -r<\/em> on the infinitive in order to get your past participle!<\/p>\n

Imperfect Tense<\/h3>\n

The imperfect is used to describe past events that spanned a longer period of time, are related to emotion, or happened before another past event.<\/p>\n

We’ll use the verb grossir<\/strong> <\/em> (to gain weight) as an example.<\/p>\n

You start by conjugating the\u00a0nous\u00a0<\/em>form of the verb (you find the stem by removing the -ir <\/em>and then add –issons).<\/em><\/p>\n

This leaves us with grossissons<\/strong>.<\/em> <\/p>\n

So now that you have the\u00a0nous\u00a0<\/em>form, you cut off the -ons<\/em> part, which leaves us with grossiss-\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Endings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then, you add the imperfect ending:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Pronouns<\/th>Endings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Je (I)<\/td>-ais<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu (you)<\/td>-ais<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Il\/Elle (he\/she)<\/td>-ait<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nous (we)<\/td>-ions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vous (you formal)<\/td>-iez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ils\/elles (they)<\/td>-aient<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Mix\u00a0it all together with our stem\u00a0grossiss-, <\/em>and\u00a0you get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>French Imperfect Tense<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
I was putting on weight<\/td>Je grossissais <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You were putting on weight<\/td>Tu grossissais <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He\/She was putting on weight<\/td>Il\/Elle grossissait <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We were putting on weight<\/td>Nous grossissions <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You were putting on weight<\/td>Vous grossissiez <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They were putting on weight<\/td>Ils\/Elles grossissaient <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Again, this will work every time with regular -ir<\/em> verbs.<\/p>\n

Future<\/a><\/h3>\n

The future tense is used to talk about events that will happen in the future and is the easiest to conjugate. In fact, it doesn’t matter if the verb in question is a regular -ir<\/em> verb or regular -er<\/em> verb, it’s the same method:<\/p>\n

Let’s use maigrir<\/strong> <\/em> (to lose weight)\u00a0<\/em>as an example:<\/p>\n

Now you need to find the stem. With regular -ir<\/em>\u00a0and -er<\/em> verbs, the stem is the infinitive.<\/p>\n

Endings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then, you add the future endings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Pronouns<\/th>Endings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Je (I)<\/td>-ai<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu (you)<\/td>-as<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Il\/Elle (he\/she)<\/td>-a<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nous (we)<\/td>-ons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vous (you formal)<\/td>-ez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ils\/elles (they)<\/td>-ont<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Throw it all together and you get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English<\/th>French Future Tense<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
I will lose weight<\/td>Je maigrirai <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You will lose weight<\/td>Tu maigriras <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
He will lose weight<\/td>Il maigrira <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We will lose weight<\/td>Nous maigrirons <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You all will lose weight<\/td>Vous maigrirez <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
They will lose weight<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Common Regular French -Ir<\/em> Verbs<\/h2>\n

Here are twelve of the most commonly used regular -ir<\/em> verbs in French. Each word links to every which way to conjugate the verb.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. agir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition:\u00a0<\/strong>to act<\/p>\n

Parfois, il agit<\/strong> sans r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir. <\/em>(Sometimes, he acts without thinking.)<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0ag-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

J’agis
\nTu agis
\nIl\/Elle agit
\nNous agissons
\nVous agissez
\nIls\/Elles agissent<\/em><\/p>\n

2. choisir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition:\u00a0<\/strong>to choose<\/p>\n

J’ai<\/strong> choisi<\/strong> une belle chemise pour toi. <\/em> (I chose a nice shirt for you.)<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0chois-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je choisis
\nTu choisis
\nIl\/Elle choisit
\nNous choisissons
\nVous choisissez
\nIls\/Elles choisissent\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

3. finir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to finish<\/p>\n

Quand je finis<\/strong> mes devoirs, je vais regarder Netflix jusqu’\u00e0 deux heures du matin. <\/i>(When I finish my\u00a0homework, I’m going to watch\u00a0Netflix until two in the morning).<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0fin-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je finis
\nTu finis
\nIl\/Elle finit
\nNous finissons
\nVous finissez
\nIls\/Elles finissent\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

4. grandir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to grow up<\/p>\n

Peter Pan ne grandit<\/strong> jamais ! <\/em>(Peter Pan never grows up!)<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0grand-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je grandis
\nTu grandis
\nIl\/Elle grandit
\nNous grandissons
\nVous grandissez
\nIls\/Elles grandissent<\/em><\/p>\n

5. nourrir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to feed<\/p>\n

Nourris<\/strong> ton serpent ! Il y a trois souris dans le frigidaire pour lui.* <\/em>(Feed your snake! There are three mice in the fridge for her.)<\/p>\n

* The above conjugation is the imperative, which was covered in the overview of tenses above!<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0nourr-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je nourris
\nTu nourris
\nIl\/Elle nourrit
\nNous nourrissons
\nVous nourrissez
\nIls\/Elles nourrissent<\/em><\/p>\n

6. ob\u00e9ir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:<\/strong>\u00a0to obey<\/p>\n

Si tu ob\u00e9is<\/strong> \u00e0 ta m\u00e8re, tout ira bien . <\/em>(If you obey your mother, all will go well).<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0ob\u00e9-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je ob\u00e9is
\nTu ob\u00e9is
\nIl\/Elle ob\u00e9it
\nNous ob\u00e9issons
\nVous ob\u00e9issez
\nIls\/Elles ob\u00e9issent\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

7. punir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to punish<\/p>\n

Le prof a puni<\/strong> les \u00e9l\u00e8ves qui avaient lanc\u00e9 des \u0153ufs.<\/em> (The teacher punished the students who had thrown eggs.)<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0pun-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je punis
\nTu punis
\nIl\/Elle punit
\nNous punissons
\nVous punissez
\nIls\/Elles punissent<\/em><\/p>\n

8. r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to think, reflect<\/p>\n

R\u00e9fl\u00e9chis<\/strong> ! Il faut trouver un bon cadeau pour maman !* <\/em>(Think! We must find a good gift for mom!)<\/p>\n

* The above conjugation is the imperative, which was covered in the overview of tenses above!<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0r\u00e9fl\u00e9ch-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je r\u00e9fl\u00e9chis
\nTu r\u00e9fl\u00e9chis
\nIl\/Elle r\u00e9fl\u00e9chit
\nNous r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissons
\nVous r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissez
\nIls\/Elles r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissent<\/em><\/p>\n

9. re<\/em>mplir <\/em><\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to fill<\/p>\n

Chaque vendredi, nous remplissons<\/strong> la piscine avec de la g\u00e9latine. <\/em>(Each Friday, we fill the pool with gelatin).<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0rempl-<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n

Je remplis
\nTu remplis
\nIl\/Elle remplit
\nNous remplissons
\nVous remplissez
\nIls\/Elles remplissent<\/em><\/p>\n

10. r\u00e9unir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to reunite<\/p>\n

L’organisation de la f\u00eate r\u00e9unit<\/strong> les membres de la famille.<\/em> (The organization of the party reunites the family members.)<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0r\u00e9un-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je r\u00e9unis
\nTu r\u00e9unis
\nIl\/Elle r\u00e9unit
\nNous r\u00e9unissons
\nVous r\u00e9unissez
\nIls\/Elles r\u00e9unissent<\/em><\/p>\n

11. rougir<\/em> <\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to blush<\/p>\n

Quand elle voit Jacques au parc, elle rougit<\/strong> ! <\/em>(When she sees Jacques at the park, she blushes!)<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0roug-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je rougis
\nTu rougis
\nIl\/Elle rougit
\nNous rougissons
\nVous rougissez
\nIls\/Elles rougissent<\/em><\/p>\n

12. vieillir<\/em> \u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

Definition<\/b>:\u00a0<\/strong>to grow old<\/p>\n

Si tu bois ce verre d’eau magique, tu ne vieilliras<\/strong> jamais !<\/em> (If you drink this magical water, you will never grow old!)<\/p>\n

Conjugated in Present Tense:<\/b><\/p>\n

Stem:\u00a0vieill-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Je vieillis
\nTu vieillis
\nIl\/Elle vieillit
\nNous vieillissons
\nVous vieillissez
\nIls\/Elles vieillissent<\/em><\/p>\n

More -Ir <\/em>Verbs in French<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
abolir <\/td>to abolish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
accomplir <\/td>to accomplish, to achieve<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
affaiblir <\/td>to weaken<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
agir sur <\/td>to act on<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
applaudir <\/td>to applaud<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
b\u00e2tir <\/td>to build<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
d\u00e9crire <\/td>to describe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
d\u00e9finir <\/td>to define<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
envahir <\/td>to invade<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00e9tablir <\/td>to establish, to set up<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
finir par <\/td>to end up<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fournir <\/td>to provide, to supply<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
garantir <\/td>to guarantee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
grossir <\/td>to gain weight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
investir <\/td>to invest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
maigrir <\/td>to lose weight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
partir <\/td>to leave<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
pr\u00e9venir <\/td>to warn, to prevent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
r\u00e9agir <\/td>to react<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
r\u00e9partir <\/td>to distribute<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
r\u00e9ussir <\/td>to succeed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
r\u00e9ussir \u00e0 <\/td>to manage to, to succeed in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
r\u00e9ussir dans <\/td>to succeed in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
subir <\/td>to undergo, to suffer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
venir <\/td>to come<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Where and How to Study Regular -Ir<\/em> Verbs in French<\/h2>\n

There are tons of fun ways to study -ir<\/em> verbs in French, here are some of them:<\/p>\n