BASIC GRAMMAR


07/ Conjugation of third-group verbs.

Third-group verbs are irregularly conjugated and have different endings. In general, verbs in the third group end in "re", but some verbs ending in "er" or "ir", such as "venir" (to come) and "aller" (to go), are classified in the third group because of their irregular conjugation.

The best way to learn how to conjugate third group verbs is to practice a lot. Nevertheless, we're going to conjugate at least four verbs with different endings. First of all, let's take a look at some third-group verbs.

Some third-group verbs.

Verbs Meaning
attendre to wait
mettre to put
faire to do
comprendre to understand
comprendre to understand
prendre to take
apprendre to learn
vendre to sell
mordre to bite
craindre to fear
peindre to paint
vivre to live
venir to come
devenir to become
dormir to sleep
coudre to sew
résoudre to resolve
dissoudre to dissolve
courir to run
souffrir to suffer
couvrir to cover
faillir to fail
voiir to see
tenir to hold

Now, how to conjugate them ?
They are conjugated differently following the conjugation tenses. That's why we have to conjugate them in the simple tenses and compound tenses of the conjugation.

SIMPLE TENSES.

The rule is the same : there are four (04) simple tenses in French and the same for the simple past too. The negative, interrogative and interronegative forms are also formed in the same way. Since the third group requires at least four (04) verbs to be conjugated, we'll just conjugate the affirmative form. But the main characteristic of these verbs is that they are irregular. Two verbs with the same ending can be conjugated differently.

01-"Le présent simple" (simple present) :

When the third group verbs end in re their endings can vary by prouns and vebrs. Let's consider the following tables :


Type one Verbs ending in "dre", "ttre"

Subject pronouns Endings
je s
tu s
il d
elle d
nous ons
vous ez
ils ent
elles ent

Attendre (to wait) :
J'attends : I wait.
tu attends : you wait.
il attend : he waits.
elle attend : she waits.
nous attendons : we wait.
vous attendez : you wait.
ils attendent : they wait.
elles attendent : they wait.

Mettre (to put) :
Je mets : I put.
tu mets : you put.
il met : he puts.
elle met : she puts.
nous metons : we put.
vous mettez : you put.
ils mettent : they put.
elles mettent : they put.

Prendre (to take) :
Je prends : I take.
tu prends : you take.
il prend : he takes.
elle prend : she takes.
nous prenons : we take.
vous prenez : you take.
ils prennent : they take.
elles prennent : they take.

Coudre (to sew) :
Je couds : I sew.
tu couds : you sew.
il coud : he sews.
elle coud : she sews.
nous cousons : we sew.
vous cousez : you sew.
ils cousent : they sew.
elles cousent : they sew.

Type two Verbs ending in "indre" "udre"

Subject pronouns Endings
je s
tu s
il t
elle t
nous ons
vous ez
ils ent
elles ent

Resoudre (to resolve) :
Je résous : I resolve.
tu résous : you resolve.
il résout : he resolves.
elle résout : she resolves.
nous résolvons : we resolve.
vous résolvez : you resolve.
ils résolvent : they resolve.
elles résolvent : they resolve.

Peindre (to paint) :
Je peins : I paint.
tu peins : you paint.
il peint : he paints.
elle peint : she paints.
nous peignons : we paint.
vous peignez : you paint.
ils peignent : they paint.
elles peignent : they paint.

Craindre (to fear) :
Je crains : I fear.
tu crains : you fear.
il craint : he fears.
elle craint : she fears.
nous craignons : we fear.
vous craignez : you fear.
ils craignent : they fear.
elles craignent : they fear.

Type three Verbs ending in "ir", "er" and "ire"

Subject pronouns Endings
je re / s
tu res /s
il re / t
elle re / t
nous rons / sons
vous rez / tes
ils rent / ont
elles rent / ont

Souffir (to suffer) :
Je souffre : I suffer.
tu souffres : you suffer.
il souffre : he suffers.
elle souffre : she suffers.
nous souffrons : we suffer.
vous souffrez : you suffer.
ils souffrent : they suffer.
elles souffrent : they suffer.

Couvrir (to cover) :
Je couvre : I cover.
tu couvres : you cover.
il couvre : he covers.
elle couvre : she covers.
nous couvrons : we cover.
vous couvrez : you cover.
ils couvrent : they cover.
elles couvrent : they cover.

Faire (to do) :
Je fais : I do.
tu fais : you do.
il fait : he does.
elle fait : she does.
nous faisons : we do.
vous faites : you do.
ils font : they do.
elles font : they do.

Aller (to go) :
Je vais : I go.
tu vas : you go.
il va : he goes.
elle va : she goes.
nous allons : we go.
vous allez : you go.
ils vont : they go.
elles vont : they go.

Important !!
One thing to keep in mind is that, these verbs are very irregular. By the way, they must be learnt by heart.