LFC: Conjugating -RE verbs

Conjugating -RE verbs

French has three main verb groups: -ER verbs, -RE verbs, and -IR verbs. You have already learned about -ER verbs. Now you are going to learn about -RE verbs. Look below. How are -RE verbs conjugated differently than -ER verbs?

Remember, when we talk about conjugating verbs, we are just talking about making the verb agree with the subject.

   
-re verbs with special rules
-re verbs
je -s nous -ons
tu -s vous -ez
il/elle/on -- ils/elles -ent
vendre - to sell
je vends nous vendons
tu vends vous vendez
il vend ils vendent
These verbs follow the same pattern explained above
Regular -re verbs
attendre to wait
dépendre  to depend (on)
entendre to hear
perdre to lose
rendre to turn in, to give back
rendre visite à quelqu’un to visit someone
répondre  to answer, to respond
   

Two example sentences with an image of a car and money, and a woman with pastries and money. Full text below.

     View the full text from the image above.

Je vends ma voiture. Elle travaille à la pâtisserie. Elle vend des croissants et des gâteaux.

Notes about the verbs above

Notes about the verbs above

Verb

Note

Examples

attendre

In English, we say to "wait for" a lot. In French, they just "wait."
  • J'attends le bus.
  • Mon amie attend sa mère

rendre visite à quelqu'un

In English, we say to visit someone. In French, it is more "to render a visit to someone."
  • Nous rendons visite à notre grand-mère.

répondre

Like in English you respond to a question.
  • Tu réponds à ma question?

dépendre de

Don't forget that when de is followed by a definite article, you have to contract de + le = du and de +les = des.
  • Ça dépend de mon frère.

A bus, a bakery and a group of friends hanging out. Transcription of description below image.

     View the full text from the image above.

Michel et Yann attendent le bus. Ils rendent visite à leur amie, Georgette. Georgette travaille en ville. Elle vend des crêpes. Ils pensent à faire un pique-nique quand elle finit de travailler, mais ça dépend du temps. S’il ne pleut pas, ils achètent des sandwiches et des sodas et ils font un pique-nique au parc.

Practice

Once you have read the rules and completed the practice activities, download the FC -RE Verbs Handout Links to an external site..

Practice conjugating -RE verbs by completing the activity below.