Tutorial · beginner
How to Conjugate French -ER Verbs
A beginner-friendly guide to regular -ER verbs, with tables, tips, and interactive practice.
What is an -ER verb?
Most French verbs end in -er. These are called regular -ER verbs, and once you learn one pattern, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs the same way.
You already know some -ER verbs:
The simple 3-step method
To conjugate a regular -ER verb in the present tense: 1) take the infinitive, 2) remove -er to get the stem, 3) add the ending for each pronoun.
Step-by-step example with PARLER
Infinitive: parler → stem: parl-
| Pronoun | Stem | Ending | Result | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | parl | -e | parle | I speak |
| tu | parl | -es | parles | you speak |
| il / elle / on | parl | -e | parle | he / she speaks |
| nous | parl | -ons | parlons | we speak |
| vous | parl | -ez | parlez | you speak |
| ils / elles | parl | -ent | parlent | they speak |
Endings to memorize
Common beginner tip
Exercise 1 — Fill in the Ending
Add the correct -ER verb ending. The stem is already given — just type the missing ending.
Fill in the correct ending
Type only the ending (-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent) in each blank.
- 1.je parl(je → -e)
- 2.tu parl(tu → -es)
- 3.elle parl(elle → -e)
- 4.nous parl(nous → -ons)
- 5.vous parl(vous → -ez)
- 6.ils parl(ils → -ent)
Exercise 2 — Choose the Right Form
Pick the correct conjugated form of the verb in brackets.
Multiple choice
Multiple choiceTap the correct option for each sentence.
1. Marie ___ le français. (parler)
2. Nous ___ à Paris. (habiter)
3. Tu ___ du chocolat ? (aimer)
4. Ils ___ la télé. (regarder)
5. Vous ___ de la musique. (écouter)
What to learn next
Practice with real dictionary pages: manger, parler, and aimer. Then continue with subject pronouns and negation.
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