French verb morphology: Difference between revisions
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{{French language}} |
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In [[French language|French]], a [[verb]] is [[inflection|inflected]] to reflect its [[grammatical mood|mood]] and [[grammatical tense|tense]], as well as to [[agreement (linguistics)|agree]] with its [[subject (grammar)|subject]] in [[grammatical person|person]] and [[grammatical number|number]]. Additionally, there exist compound verb forms (i.e., non-[[synthetic language|synthetic]] forms, using [[auxiliary verb]]s) for expressing a [[passive voice]] and a [[perfect aspect]], and the latter often doubles as an ordinary past tense. Following the tradition of [[Latin language|Latin]] grammar, the set of inflected forms of a French verb is called the verb's [[grammatical conjugation|conjugation]]. |
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{{broader|French verbs}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} |
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In [[French language|French]], a [[verb]] is [[inflection|inflected]] to reflect its [[grammatical mood|mood]] and [[grammatical tense|tense]], as well as to [[agreement (linguistics)|agree]] with its [[subject (grammar)|subject]] in [[grammatical person|person]] and [[grammatical number|number]]. Following the tradition of [[Latin language|Latin]] grammar, the set of inflected forms of a French verb is called the verb's [[grammatical conjugation|conjugation]]. |
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== Stems and endings == |
== Stems and endings == |
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French verbs have a large number of ''simple'' (one-word) forms. These are composed of two distinct parts: the ''stem'' (or ''root,'' or ''radix),'' which indicates which verb it is, and the ''ending'' (inflection), which indicates the verb's tense (imperfect, present, future etc.) and mood and its [[Subject (grammar)|subject's]] person (I, you, he/she etc.) and number, though many endings can correspond to multiple tense-mood-subject combinations. In certain parts of the second conjugation there is also a suffix ''-iss-'' between the stem and the ending, which derives historically from an [[inchoative]] suffix. |
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*In ''parlaient,'' the stem ''parl-'' indicates that the verb is ''parler (to speak)'' and the ending ''-aient'' marks the third-person plural imperfect indicative. "Third person plural" meaning the subject of the verb is "they". The "[[Imperfect|imperfect indicative]]" being a tense. |
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:''Ils parl<u>aient</u>.'' |
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*In ''finissons'', the stem ''fin-'' indicates that the verb is ''finir (to finish),'' the suffix ''-iss-'' follows it, and the inflection ''-ons'' marks the first-person plural present indicative '''or''' imperative. The "first-person plural" is the "we" form of a verb. The "present indicative" being a tense and "[[Imperative mood|imperative]]" being a mood, but in French they are indistinguishable without context. |
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::The stem ''parl-'' is from the verb ''parler'' (to speak) and the ending ''-aient'' indicates that this is the ''imperfect indicative third person plural''. |
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:''Nous fin'''iss'''<u>ons</u>.'' |
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::The stem ''fin-'' is from the verb ''finir'' (to finish) and the ending ''-ons'' indicates that this is the ''present indicative first person plural''; between these is the second-conjugation infix ''-iss-''. |
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Note that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the stem from the ending in |
These verb conjugations are most often coupled with a [[subject pronoun]] to reinforce who the subject of the verb is (i.e. ''who'' is doing the action). Note that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the stem from the ending, especially in [[irregular verbs]] such as ''avoir'' (to have), ''aller'' (to go), ''dire'' (to say), ''être'' (to be), ''faire'' (to do, make), ''pouvoir'' (can), ''savoir'' (to know), ''valoir'' (to be worth, to cost), and ''vouloir'' (to want): |
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*''Il '''va''' travailler.'' (He goes to work.) |
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*'''''Es'''-tu là ?'' (Are you there?) |
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*''Elle '''a''' rougi.'' (She blushed.) |
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In these examples, there is no obvious stem – the verbs conjugate without a stem. |
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=== |
=== The principle of the fixed stem === |
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The stem |
The stem normally stays fixed in the [[#Infinitive (Infinitif)|first two conjugations]]: |
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*'''''Parl'''er: Je '''parl'''erais, tu '''parl'''as, qu'ils '''parl'''assent, que nous '''parl'''ions, '''parl'''ez...'' |
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*'''''Fin'''ir: Je '''fin'''irais, vous '''fin'''îtes, qu'ils '''fin'''issent, '''fin'''is, que nous '''fin'''issions...'' |
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==== The principle of the fixed stem ==== |
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The stem normally stays fixed in the [[#Infinitive|first two conjugations]]: |
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:''Je <u>parl</u>erais, tu <u>parl</u>as, qu'ils <u>parl</u>assent, <u>parl</u>ant, <u>parl</u>é, que nous <u>parl</u>ions, <u>parl</u>ez…'' |
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:''Je <u>fin</u>irais, vous <u>fin</u>îtes, <u>fin</u>issant, qu'ils <u>fin</u>issent, <u>fin</u>i, <u>fin</u>is, que nous <u>fin</u>issions…'' |
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In the [[#Infinitive|third]] it is often modified, sometimes even between persons in the same tense: |
In the [[#Infinitive|third]] it is often modified, sometimes even between persons in the same tense: |
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*'''''Voul'''oir: Je '''veu'''x, tu '''veu'''x, il '''veu'''t, nous '''voul'''ons, vous '''voul'''ez, ils '''veul'''ent.'' |
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But such irregularities apart, the principle is that |
But such irregularities apart, the principle is that nothing is removed from the stem. Consequently, verbs ending in ''-guer'' and ''-quer'' keep the ''-gu-'' or ''-qu-'' throughout the conjugation, even where simplifying this combination to ''-g-'' or ''-c-'' would be consistent with the rules of French orthography: |
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*''Navi'''gu'''er: nous navi'''gu'''ons, je navi'''gu'''ais, en navi'''gu'''ant...'' |
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*''Provo'''qu'''er: nous provo'''qu'''ons, je provo'''qu'''ais, en provo'''qu'''ant...'' |
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=== Adding to the stem to preserve the pronunciation === |
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But although |
But although things are generally not removed from the stem, it is permissible to add letters when this is necessary. Certain stems can undergo various orthographic changes (which are not strictly speaking considered to be irregularities) in order to retain the correct pronunciation: |
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* The ''-c-'' in certain stems receives a [[cedilla]] before any ending which would otherwise change its pronunciation: |
* The ''-c-'' in certain stems receives a [[cedilla]] before any ending which would otherwise change its pronunciation: |
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:''Avan |
:''Avan'''c'''er: j'avan'''c'''e, nous avan'''ç'''ons, j'avan'''ç'''ais…'' |
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:''Aper |
:''Aper'''c'''evoir: j'aper'''ç'''ois, tu aper'''ç'''us, nous aper'''c'''evons…'' |
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* The ''-g-'' in certain stems is followed by a silent ''-e-'' before any ending which would otherwise change its pronunciation: |
* The ''-g-'' in certain stems is followed by a silent ''-e-'' before any ending which would otherwise change its pronunciation: |
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:''Man |
:''Man'''g'''er: je man'''g'''e, nous man'''ge'''ons, je man'''ge'''ais, vous man'''g'''iez, en man'''ge'''ant…'' |
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=== Endings === |
=== Endings (''terminaisons'')=== |
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The '''ending''' is a ''suffix'' which tells us: |
The '''ending''' is a ''suffix'' which tells us: |
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* For the [[past participle]] alone, the ''gender'' and the ''number''. |
* For the [[past participle]] alone, the ''gender'' and the ''number''. |
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Apart from a few verbs which are considered totally irregular (mainly ''avoir'', ''être'' and '' |
Apart from a few frequent verbs which are considered totally irregular (mainly ''avoir'', ''être'', ''aller'' and ''faire''), for each tense of each mood a series of six endings (one for each person singular and plural) is associated with a group or subgroup of verbs. Each of these series must now remain fixed throughout a single tense. Consequently, no ending may be modified even when orthographical simplification would be possible: |
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* For example, when the verb stem ends in a vowel (''cr |
* For example, when the verb stem ends in a vowel (''cr'''i'''er, fu'''i'''r, t'''u'''er, vo'''i'''r'', etc.), the ''-e-'' of the ending may become silent but must still be written (in the present, future, and conditional): |
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:''Fuir'', present subjunctive: ''que je fui |
:''Fuir'' (to flee), present subjunctive: ''que je fui'''e''', que tu fui'''e'''s, qu'il fui'''e''', que nous fuyions, que vous fuyiez, qu'ils fui'''e'''nt…'' |
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:''Créer'', future indicative: ''je cré |
:''Créer'' (to create), future indicative: ''je cré'''e'''rai, tu cré'''e'''ras, il cré'''e'''ra, nous cré'''e'''rons, vous cré'''e'''rez, ils cré'''e'''ront…'' |
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* Similarly, the |
* Similarly, the imperfect indicative and present subjunctive endings for the first and second persons plural are ''-ions'' et ''-iez'': for verbs such as ''ga'''gn'''er, vo'''i'''r, r'''i'''re, br'''ill'''er'', etc., the ''-i-'' of these endings '''must be retained''', even though some speakers pronounce them the same way as the present indicative forms without ''-i-'':<ref>Other speakers maintain a distinction between, for example, ''voyez'' {{IPA|[vwa'''j'''e]}} and ''voy'''i'''ez'' {{IPA|[vwa'''jj'''ez]}} (Tranel 1987, pp. 120–21).</ref> |
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:''Nous gagn<u>i</u>ons, vous voy<u>i</u>ez, nous ri<u>i</u>ons, vous brill<u>i</u>ez…'' |
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== Use of an auxiliary == |
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Certain verb forms ('''compound''' and '''doubly compound tenses''', as well as '''simple tenses in the passive voice''') make use of an [[auxiliary verb]]. |
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=== Auxiliaries used === |
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French uses two auxiliaries: ''être'' and ''avoir''. The question of '''semi-auxiliaries''' (conjugated verbs combined with an infinitive to form a '''verbal periphrasis''') will be studied elsewhere. |
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==== ''être'' as an auxiliary ==== |
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The auxiliary '''''être''''' is used in the formation of three types of verbal form: |
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* Composite tenses of '''certain intransitive verbs''' expressing a motion or change of state (''aller, arriver, devenir, entrer, mourir, naître, partir, rester, sortir, venir''…): |
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:''François <u>est</u> allé à Paris.'' |
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* Composite and doubly composite tenses of '''all reflexive verbs''': |
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:''François s'<u>est</u> lavé la tête. François s'<u>est</u> eu lavé la tête. François s'<u>est</u> souvenu de Paul. François et Paul se <u>sont</u> parlé longtemps.'' |
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* Simple tenses of the '''passive voice of transitive verbs''': |
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:''François <u>est</u> grondé par ses parents.'' |
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==== ''avoir'' as an auxiliary ==== |
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The auxiliary '''''avoir''''' is mainly used to form composite tenses of non-reflexive active verbs. These can be '''intransitive''' |
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(''être, disparaître''…), but most are '''transitive''' (''manger, croire, faire''…): |
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:''J'<u>ai</u> été malade. Tu <u>as</u> mangé des spaghettis.'' |
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* Notice that the verb ''être'' is not used in forming composite tenses of itself. Consequently the auxiliary ''être'' which occurs in the composite and doubly composite tenses of the passive voice of transitive verbs must be conjugated with the auxiliary ''avoir'': |
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:''François <u>a</u> été grondé par ses parents. François <u>a</u> eu été grondé par ses parents.'' |
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* For some verbs the correct choice of auxiliary is doubtful (''accourir, convenir, demeurer, descendre, échapper, passer''…): |
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:''Il <u>est</u> passé (il <u>a</u> passé ?) par ici, il repassera par là.'' (''Il court, il court, le furet'' - popular song) |
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:''J'<u>ai</u> descendu (je <u>suis</u> descendue ?) dans mon jardin.'' (popular song) |
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::The choice of one or the other auxiliary sometimes changes the '''meaning''' of the verb, but whenever there is a direct object, the auxiliary ''avoir'' must be used (except of course for reflexive forms): |
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:::''Je <u>suis</u> monté au grenier. J'<u>ai</u> monté de vieux livres au grenier.'' |
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=== Verb forms requiring an auxiliary === |
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==== Active voice ==== |
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* For a composite or doubly composite tense that is not passive or reflexive, the appropriate auxiliary (''être'' or ''avoir'') is conjugated according to the tense and mood of the corresponding simple tense (for example, to obtain the '''perfect tense''' the corresponding simple tense is the '''present'''), followed by the [[past participle]] of the verb concerned: |
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:''Il <u>mange</u>. Il <u>a mangé</u>. Nous <u>partirons</u> à Paris. Nous <u>serons partis</u> à Paris.'' |
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* For doubly composite tenses, the auxiliary is itself in a composite tense. Thus '''''avoir eu''''' must be substituted for ''avoir'', and '''''avoir été''''' for ''être'': |
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:''Il <u>a mangé</u>. Il <u>a eu mangé</u>. Quand nous <u>sommes partis</u>... Quand nous <u>avons été partis</u>…'' |
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==== Passive voice ==== |
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* For simple tenses of the [[passive voice]], only the auxiliary ''être'' is used, conjugated according to the tense and mood of the corresponding active verb, together with the past participle of the relevant verb: |
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:''Le chat <u>mange</u> la souris. La souris <u>est mangée</u> par le chat.'' |
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* In composite tenses (auxiliary '''''avoir été''''') and in doubly composite tenses (auxiliary '''''avoir eu été''''') the past participle of the relevant verb is always preceded by the past participle ''été'', which is always invariant: |
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:''Le chat <u>a mangé</u> la souris. La souris <u>a été mangée</u> par le chat.'' |
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:''Le chat <u>a eu mangé</u> la souris. La souris <u>a eu été mangée</u> par le chat.'' |
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==== Reflexive verbs ==== |
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* For composite tenses in '''reflexive verbs''', only the auxiliary ''être'' is used, conjugated according to the tense and mood of the corresponding simple tense (for example, to obtain the '''future perfect''' the corresponding simple tense is the '''future'''), followed by the [[past participle]] of the verb concerned: |
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:''Elle se <u>lave</u>. Elle s'<u>est lavée</u>. Elle se <u>blottit</u>. Elle s'<u>est blottie</u>.'' |
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* For doubly composite tenses (which are not much used in reflexive forms) the composite auxiliary '''''être eu''''' ('''not''' ''avoir été''!) is substituted for the simple auxiliary ''être'': |
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:''Quand elle s'<u>est eu lavée</u>… Quand elle s'<u>est eu blottie</u>…'' |
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=== Choice of auxiliary === |
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{| border=2 |
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|<center>'''Type of verb'''</center> |
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|<center>'''Simple tenses'''</center> |
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|<center>'''Compound tenses'''</center> |
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|<center>'''Doubly compound tenses'''</center> |
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|- |
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|<center>Transitive verbs (1)</center> |
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|<center>No auxiliary</center> |
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|<center>AVOIR</center> |
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|<center>AVOIR EU</center> |
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|- |
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|<center>Intransitive verbs (2)</center> |
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|<center>No auxiliary</center> |
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|<center>ETRE</center> |
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|<center>AVOIR ETE</center> |
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|- |
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|<center>Passive verbs</center> |
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|<center>ETRE</center> |
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|<center>AVOIR ETE</center> |
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|<center>AVOIR EU ETE</center> |
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|- |
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|<center>Reflexive verbs</center> |
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|<center>No auxiliary</center> |
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|<center>S'ETRE</center> |
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|<center>S'ETRE EU</center> |
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|- |
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|} |
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:''Nous gagn'''i'''ons'' (vs. ''gagnons''), ''vous voy'''i'''ez'' (vs. ''voyez''), ''nous ri'''i'''ons'' (vs. ''rions''), ''vous brill'''i'''ez'' (vs. ''brillez''), … |
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:(1) And some intransitive verbs (''être, paraître''...). |
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:(2) That is, verbs of changing state or of movement, except for those mentioned above. |
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== Formation of simple tenses active == |
== Formation of simple tenses active == |
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These tenses are not formed with an auxiliary, and their formation is discussed in the following section. |
These tenses are not formed with an auxiliary, and their formation is discussed in the following section. |
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=== Infinitive === |
=== Infinitive (''Infinitif'')=== |
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A verb is normally named by its '''present infinitive'''. Starting from this infinitive, the conjugations can be classified into three different groups: |
A verb is normally named by its '''present infinitive''' (''Infinitif présent''). Starting from this infinitive, the conjugations can be classified into three different groups: |
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* The '''first group''' or '''first conjugation'''. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in ''-er'' (with the exception of ''aller'', which due to its numerous irregularities is usually classed as being in the third conjugation): |
* The '''first group''' or '''first conjugation'''. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in ''-er'' /e/ (with the exception of ''aller'', which due to its numerous irregularities is usually classed as being in the third conjugation): |
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: |
:{{lang|fr|Aimer, balayer, chanter, envoyer, fermer, manger, passer, payer, promener, regarder,}} etc. |
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::For example, for the verb ''parler'', the stem is ''parl-'' and the ending is ''-er''. |
::For example, for the verb ''parler'', the stem is ''parl-'' and the ending is ''-er'' {{IPA|/e/}}. |
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* The '''second group''' or '''second conjugation'''. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in ''-ir'' whose present participle ends in ''-issant'': |
* The '''second group''' or '''second conjugation'''. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in ''-ir'' {{IPA|/iʀ/}} whose present participle ends in ''-issant'' {{IPA|/isɑ̃/}}: |
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: |
:{{lang|fr|Bénir, compatir, déguerpir, fleurir, grandir, haïr, investir, polir, rougir, rugir, salir,}} etc. |
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::For example, for the verb ''finir'', the stem is ''fin-'' and the ending is ''-ir''. |
::For example, for the verb ''finir'', the stem is ''fin-'' and the ending is ''-ir''. |
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* The '''third group''' or '''third conjugation'''. This contains all the other verbs, all considered as to some extent irregular, to wit: the verbs ending in ''-ir'' not belonging to the second conjugation, the verbs ending in ''-oir'' |
* The '''third group''' or '''third conjugation'''. This contains all the other verbs, all considered as to some extent irregular, to wit: the verbs ending in ''-ir'' not belonging to the second conjugation, the verbs ending in ''-oir,'' the verbs ending in ''-re,'' and the verb ''aller'': |
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: |
:{{lang|fr|Conduire, connaître, dire, dormir, exclure, faire, mettre, plaindre, prendre, résoudre, savoir, vivre,}} etc. |
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::Examples: |
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::For example, for the verb ''courir'', the stem is ''cour-'' and the ending is ''-ir''. |
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:: |
:::{{lang|fr|courir}} – the stem is ''cour-'' and the ending is ''-ir'' /iʁ/. |
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:: |
:::{{lang|fr|devoir}} – the stem is ''dev-'' and the ending is ''-oir'' /waʁ/. |
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:: |
:::{{lang|fr|rendre}} – the stem is ''rend-'' and the ending is ''-re'' /ʁ/. |
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:::{{lang|fr|aller}} – the stem is ''all-'' and the ending is ''-er'' /e/. |
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Note that the auxiliaries ''être'' |
Note that the auxiliaries ''être'' and ''avoir,'' although they would naturally seem to belong to the third conjugation, are traditionally classed separately. |
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=== |
===Present indicative (''Indicatif présent'')=== |
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The present indicative is the form of the verb used to describe an action in the present e.g. ''Je parle'' means "I speak" <u>or</u> "I am speaking". |
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The stem of the present indicative is not always regular and not always invariant (especially in the third conjugation), and there are two sets of endings which can be distinguished according to whether the first person singular ends in ''-e'': |
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The stem of the present indicative is not always regular and can vary (especially in the third conjugation) and there are three main sets of endings: |
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* Verbs ending in ''-e'' (all verbs of the first group and some from the third): '''''-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent'''''. |
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* Verbs ending in ''-er'' (all verbs of the first group): '''''-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent''','' pronounced {{IPA|/ᵊ, ᵊ, ᵊ, ˈɔ̃, ˈe, ᵊ/}}. |
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* Verbs ending in ''-ir'' (all verbs of the second group and most of the third): '''''-is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent''','' pronounced {{IPA|/ˈi, ˈi, ˈi, isˈɔ̃, isˈe, ˈis/}}. But there are numerous irregularities, especially in the third group. |
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* Verbs ending in ''-re'' (part of the third group): '''''-s, -s, - , -ons, -ez, -ent''','' pronounced {{IPA|/, , , ˈɔ̃, ˈe, /}}. |
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* Example: |
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{| class=wikitable |
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* Verbs not ending in ''-e'' (all verbs of the second group and most of the third) : '''''-s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent'''''. But there are numerous irregularities, especially in the third group. |
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!colspan=2 rowspan=2| |
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! 1st group |
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* Example: |
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! 2nd group |
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! 3rd group |
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{| border=1 |
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| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
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|- |
|- |
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! {{nobold|{{lang|fr|Parler}} (to speak)}} |
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| je parl'''e''' || je fin'''is''' |
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! {{nobold|{{lang|fr|Finir}} (to finish)}} |
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! {{nobold|{{lang|fr|Descendre}} (to go/get down)}} |
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|- |
|- |
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! rowspan="2" |1st person |
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| tu parl'''es''' || tu fin'''is''' |
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! singular |
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| je parl'''e''' || je fin'''is''' || je descend'''''s''''' |
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|- |
|- |
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! plural |
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| il, elle, on parl'''e''' || il, elle, on fin'''it''' |
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| nous parl'''ons''' || nous fin'''issons''' || nous descend'''''ons''''' |
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|- |
|- |
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! rowspan="2" |2nd person |
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| nous parl'''ons''' || nous fin'''issons''' |
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! singular |
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| tu parl'''es''' || tu fin'''is''' || tu descend'''''s''''' |
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|- |
|- |
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! plural |
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| vous parl'''ez''' || vous fin'''issez''' |
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| vous parl'''ez''' || vous fin'''issez''' || vous descend'''''ez''''' |
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|- |
|- |
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! rowspan="2" | 3rd person |
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| ils, elles parl'''ent''' || ils, elles fin'''issent''' |
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! singular |
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| il/elle/on parl'''e''' || il/elle/on fin'''it''' || il/elle/on descend |
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|- |
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! Plural |
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| ils/elles parl'''ent''' || ils/elles fin'''issent''' || ils/elles descend'''''ent''''' |
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|} |
|} |
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* Verbs of the second group take an '''-iss-''' in the plural conjugations. |
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* Verbs of the third group: |
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** Verbs ending in -oir : the indicative present stems depend on the verb. The endings are '''-s''', '''-s''', '''-t''', '''-ons''', '''-ez''', '''-ent'''. However, verbs {{lang|fr|pouvoir}}, {{lang|fr|valoir}}, {{lang|fr|équivaloir}} and {{lang|fr|vouloir}} have '''-x''', '''-x''', '''-t''' in singular (''je peux'', ''tu peux'', {{lang|fr|je (j'équi)vaux}}, {{lang|fr|tu (équi)vaux}}, {{lang|fr|je veux}}, {{lang|fr|tu veux}}). |
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** Verbs in -re : endings are the same, stems are equally irregular. There are verbs ''dire'', ''faire'' and ''être'' which have '''-tes''' instead of '''-ez''' and other irregularities. Verbs with ''-ttre'' have '''-ts''', '''-ts''', '''-t''' in singular (''je mets'' for ''mettre'', ''tu bats'' for ''battre''). Verbs with ''-dre'' have endings '''-ds''', '''-ds''', '''-d''' in singular (e.g. : ''je prends'', ''tu mouds'', ''il répand'') except verbs in ''-indre'' and ''-soudre'' (Verbs in ''-soudre'' in plural: '''-solvons''', '''-solvez''', '''-solvent'''). Verbs ''vaincre'' and ''convaincre'' have '''-cs''', '''-cs''', '''-c''' in singular ({{lang|fr|je (con)vaincs}}, {{lang|fr|tu (con)vaincs}}, {{lang|fr|il (con)vainc}}). |
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** Verbs in -ir : endings are the same as the second group in singular, and they have regular ending of third group in plural. |
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=== Imperfect indicative === |
=== Imperfect indicative (''Indicatif imparfait'')=== |
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The imperfect indicative is a past tense, where the action <u>either</u> continues into the present <u>or</u> is a repeated action e.g. "je parlais" means "I was speaking" <u>or</u> "I used to speak". It may be used when someone or their action is interrupted e.g. "''je '''parlais''' avant que tu m'arrêtes"'' meaning "I was speaking before you stopped me" |
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*The stem of the imperfect indicative is always invariant for a single verb. It is derived from the first person plural of the present indicative (except for the verb ''être''): |
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:Verb ''boire'', present indicative: ''je bois, tu bois, il boit, nous <u>buv</u>ons, vous buvez, ils boivent.'' |
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:Verb ''boire'', imperfect indicative: ''je <u>buv</u>ais, tu <u>buv</u>ais, il <u>buv</u>ait, nous <u>buv</u>ions, vous <u>buv</u>iez, ils <u>buv</u>aient.'' |
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* The endings of this tense are for any of the three groups always: '''''-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient''','' pronounced {{IPA|/ɛ, ɛ, ɛ, jɔ̃, je, ɛ/}}. |
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* The stem of the imperfect indicative is always invariant for a single verb. It is derived from the first person plural of the present indicative (except for the verb ''être''): |
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:Verb ''boire'', present indicative : ''je bois, tu bois, il boit, nous <u>buv</u>ons, vous buvez, ils boivent.'' |
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:Verb ''boire'', imperfect indicative : ''je <u>buv</u>ais, tu <u>buv</u>ais, il <u>buv</u>ait, nous <u>buv</u>ions, vous <u>buv</u>iez, ils <u>buv</u>aient.'' |
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* The endings of this tense are for any of the three groups always: '''''-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient'''''. |
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:For the 1st and 3rd groups, the '''-i-''' of the first and second persons plural must always be kept even though it may not be reflected in the pronunciation of certain verbs: |
:For the 1st and 3rd groups, the '''-i-''' of the first and second persons plural must always be kept even though it may not be reflected in the pronunciation of certain verbs: |
||
::''Nous travaill<u>i</u>ons, vous travaill<u>i</u>ez, nous ri<u>i</u>ons, vous ri<u>i</u>ez, nous essuy<u>i</u>ons, vous essuy<u>i</u>ez, nous gagn<u>i</u>ons, vous gagn<u>i</u>ez, nous tressaill<u>i</u>ons, vous tressaill<u>i</u>ez, nous pri<u>i</u>ons, vous pri<u>i</u>ez...'' |
::''Nous travaill<u>i</u>ons, vous travaill<u>i</u>ez, nous ri<u>i</u>ons, vous ri<u>i</u>ez, nous essuy<u>i</u>ons, vous essuy<u>i</u>ez, nous gagn<u>i</u>ons, vous gagn<u>i</u>ez, nous tressaill<u>i</u>ons, vous tressaill<u>i</u>ez, nous pri<u>i</u>ons, vous pri<u>i</u>ez...'' |
||
* Example: |
* Example: |
||
{| |
{| class=wikitable |
||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
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|} |
|} |
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* In older texts, one can find the endings '''''-ois, -ois, -oit, -ions, -iez, -oient''''', corresponding to the orthography of Old French. This spelling coexisted with the modern endings '''''-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient''''' and was not officially abandoned by the [[Académie française]] until 1835.<ref>Cabinet de curosités, [http://monsu.desiderio.free.fr/curiosites/imparfait.html L'histoire de l'imparfait]</ref> |
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=== Past historic === |
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* Example: |
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{| class=wikitable |
|||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
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|- |
|||
| je parl'''ois''' || je finiss'''ois''' |
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|- |
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| tu parl'''ois''' || tu finiss'''ois''' |
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|- |
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| il, elle, on parl'''oit''' || il, elle, on finiss'''oit''' |
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|- |
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| nous parl'''ions''' || nous finiss'''ions''' |
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|- |
|||
| vous parl'''iez''' || vous finiss'''iez''' |
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|- |
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| ils parl'''oient''' || ils, elles finiss'''oient''' |
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|} |
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* Verb ''être'' : the stem is '''ét-''' (/et/), endings are the same. |
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=== Past historic (Indicatif passé simple or Indicatif passé défini)=== |
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Note that in modern language this tense is used only in formal writing, usually referring to historical, historic events, or in novels; it was replaced by ''[[passé composé]]'' in other contexts. |
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The stem of the past historic tense is not always regular but is always invariant for a single verb. There are four sets of endings for this tense: |
The stem of the past historic tense is not always regular but is always invariant for a single verb. There are four sets of endings for this tense: |
||
* Past historic in ''-a-'' |
* Past historic in ''-a-'': '''''-ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent'''''. [1st group and ''aller''] |
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* Past historic in ''-i-'' |
::(pronounced {{IPA|/e, a, a, ɑm, ɑt, ɛʀ/}}.) |
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* Past historic in ''-i-'': '''''-is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent'''''. [2nd and 3rd groups] |
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* Past historic in ''-u-'' |
::(pronounced {{IPA|/i, i, i, im, it, iʀ/}}.) |
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* Past historic in ''-u-'': '''''-us, -us, -ut, -ûmes, -ûtes, -urent'''''. [3rd group] |
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::(pronounced {{IPA|/y, y, y, ym, yt, yʀ/}}.) |
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* Past historic in ''-in-'' : '''''-ins, -ins, -int, -înmes, -întes, -inrent'''''. [3rd group] |
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* Past historic in ''-in-'': '''''-ins, -ins, -int, -înmes, -întes, -inrent'''''. [verbs ''venir,'' ''tenir'' and all the verbs which are formed with them (''survenir'', ''maintenir'', etc.)] |
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::(pronounced {{IPA|/ɛ̃, ɛ̃, ɛ̃, ɛ̃m, ɛ̃t, ɛ̃ʀ/}}.) |
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:''Je chant<u>ai</u>, je fin<u>is</u>, je b<u>us</u>, je v<u>ins</u>…'' |
:''Je chant<u>ai</u>, je fin<u>is</u>, je b<u>us</u>, je v<u>ins</u>…'' |
||
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* Example: |
* Example: |
||
{| |
{| class=wikitable |
||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 268: | Line 219: | ||
|} |
|} |
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=== Future === |
=== Future (''Indicatif futur simple'')=== |
||
The future endings correspond to the present indicative of the verb ''avoir''. They are always regular: '''''-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont''''' |
The future endings correspond to the present indicative of the verb ''avoir''. They are always regular: '''''-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont''','' pronounced {{IPA|/e, a, a, ɔ̃, e, ɔ̃/}}. |
||
* Between the future stem and these endings the infinitive ending is inserted |
* Between the future stem and these endings the infinitive ending is inserted, though the pronunciation of the ''-er'' infinitive changes from {{IPA|/e/}} to {{IPA|/(ə)ʀ/}} In other words, to form the future tense these endings are appended to the infinitive: |
||
::''Je finir<u>ai</u>, tu parler<u>as</u>, elle sortir<u>a</u>, nous travailler<u>ons</u>, vous rougir<u>ez</u>, ils partir<u>ont</u>.'' |
::''Je finir<u>ai</u>, tu parler<u>as</u>, elle sortir<u>a</u>, nous travailler<u>ons</u>, vous rougir<u>ez</u>, ils partir<u>ont</u>.'' |
||
:But there are several irregular future stems, especially in the third group. |
:But there are several irregular future stems, especially in the third group. |
||
* Example: |
* Example: |
||
{| |
{| class=wikitable |
||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' || ''3rd group'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| je parler'''ai''' || je finir'''ai''' |
| je parler'''ai''' || je finir'''ai''' || je descend'''rai''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| tu parler'''as''' || tu finir'''as''' |
| tu parler'''as''' || tu finir'''as''' || tu descend'''ras''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| il, elle, on parler'''a''' || il, elle, on finir'''a''' |
| il, elle, on parler'''a''' || il, elle, on finir'''a''' || il, elle, on descend'''ra''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| nous parler'''ons''' || nous finir'''ons''' |
| nous parler'''ons''' || nous finir'''ons''' || nous descend'''rons''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| vous parler'''ez''' || vous finir'''ez''' |
| vous parler'''ez''' || vous finir'''ez''' || vous descend'''rez''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ils, elles parler'''ont''' || ils, elles finir'''ont''' |
| ils, elles parler'''ont''' || ils, elles finir'''ont''' || ils, elles descend'''ront''' |
||
|} |
|} |
||
The following verbs have a double ''r'' in future forms: ''envoyer'', ''renvoyer'' (j'enve'''rrai''', je renve'''rrai'''), ''mourir'' (je mou'''rrai'''), ''courir'' (je cou'''rrai'''), ''choir'' and ''échoir'' (il che'''rra''', il éche'''rra'''), ''acquérir'' and ''conquérir'' (j'acque'''rrai''', je conque'''rrai'''), ''voir'' (je ve'''rrai'''), ''pouvoir'' (je pou'''rrai'''). |
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=== Present conditional === |
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=== Present conditional (''Conditionnel présent'')=== |
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The conditional endings correspond to those of the imperfect indicative. They too are always regular: '''''-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient''''' |
The conditional endings correspond to those of the imperfect indicative. They too are always regular: '''''-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient, and in some rare cases, -it''','' pronounced {{IPA|/ɛ, ɛ, ɛ, jɔ̃, je, ɛ/}}... |
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* The conditional stem is '''always the same as the future stem''': |
* The conditional stem is '''always the same as the future stem''': |
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* Example: |
* Example: |
||
{| |
{| class=wikitable |
||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' || ''3rd group'' |
|||
|- |
|||
| je parler'''ais''' || je finir'''ais''' || je descend'''rais''' |
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|- |
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| tu parler'''ais''' || tu finir'''ais''' || tu descend'''rais''' |
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|- |
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| il, elle, on parler'''ait''' || il, elle, on finir'''ait''' || il, elle, on descend'''rait''' |
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|- |
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| nous parler'''ions''' || nous finir'''ions''' || nous descend'''rions''' |
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|- |
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| vous parler'''iez''' || vous finir'''iez''' || vous descend'''riez''' |
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|- |
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| ils, elles parler'''aient''' || ils, elles finir'''aient''' || ils, elles descend'''raient''' |
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|} |
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Sometimes the past imperfect subjunctive is used to replace the present conditional. This form is called the '''present conditional second form''' (''Conditionnel présent deuxième forme''). In contrast the regular conditional is then called '''present conditional first form''' (''Conditionnel présent première forme''). This has become very unusual, only in sentences starting with ''Même si'' and the expression ''fût-ce'' this form is still used. The perfective |
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tense (the '''past conditional second form''' (''Conditionnel passé deuxième forme'') is however used very often in literature. |
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* Example: |
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{| class=wikitable |
|||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| je |
| je parl'''asse''' || je fin'''isse''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| tu |
| tu parl'''asses''' || tu fin'''isses''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| il, elle, on |
| il, elle, on parl'''ât''' || il, elle, on fin'''ît''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| nous |
| nous parl'''assions''' || nous fin'''issions''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| vous |
| vous parl'''assiez''' || vous fin'''issiez''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ils, elles |
| ils, elles parl'''assent''' || ils, elles fin'''issent''' |
||
|} |
|} |
||
=== Present subjunctive === |
=== Present subjunctive (''Subjonctif présent'')=== |
||
* The present subjunctive endings are for all three groups (except the verbs ''être'' |
* The present subjunctive endings are for all three groups (except the verbs ''être'' and ''avoir''): '''''-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent''','' pronounced {{IPA|/ᵊ, ᵊ, ᵊ, jɔ̃, je, ᵊ/}}. |
||
:For the 1st and 3rd groups, the '''-i-''' of the first and second persons plural must always be kept even though it may not be reflected in the pronunciation of certain verbs: |
:For the 1st and 3rd groups, the '''-i-''' of the first and second persons plural must always be kept even though it may not be reflected in the pronunciation of certain verbs: |
||
::''(Il faut) que nous travaill<u>i</u>ons, que vous travaill<u>i</u>ez, que nous ri<u>i</u>ons, que vous ri<u>i</u>ez, que nous essuy<u>i</u>ons, que vous essuy<u>i</u>ez, que nous gagn<u>i</u>ons, que vous gagn<u>i</u>ez, que nous tressaill<u>i</u>ons, que |
::''(Il faut) que nous travaill<u>i</u>ons, que vous travaill<u>i</u>ez, que nous ri<u>i</u>ons, que vous ri<u>i</u>ez, que nous essuy<u>i</u>ons, que vous essuy<u>i</u>ez, que nous gagn<u>i</u>ons, que vous gagn<u>i</u>ez, que nous tressaill<u>i</u>ons, que vous tressaill<u>i</u>ez, que nous pri<u>i</u>ons, que vous pri<u>i</u>ez. ''Exceptions:'' que nous ayons, que vous ayez, que nous soyons, que vous soyez...'' |
||
* The present subjunctive stem is generally derived from the third person plural of the present indicative (except for the verbs ''aller'', ''avoir'', ''être'', ''faire'', ''falloir'', ''pouvoir'', ''savoir'', ''traire'', ''valoir'', and ''vouloir'', which have irregular stems): |
* The present subjunctive stem is generally derived from the third person plural of the present indicative (except for the verbs ''aller'', ''avoir'', ''être'', ''faire'', ''falloir'', ''pouvoir'', ''savoir'', ''traire'', ''valoir'', and ''vouloir'', which have irregular stems): |
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:Verb ''faire'', present subjunctive: ''(que) je <u>fass</u>e, tu <u>fass</u>es, il <u>fass</u>e, nous <u>fass</u>ions, vous <u>fass</u>iez, ils <u>fass</u>ent.'' |
:Verb ''faire'', present subjunctive: ''(que) je <u>fass</u>e, tu <u>fass</u>es, il <u>fass</u>e, nous <u>fass</u>ions, vous <u>fass</u>iez, ils <u>fass</u>ent.'' |
||
:But when in the present indicative |
:But sometimes when in the present indicative the stem used for the first and second persons plural differs from that used for the other four persons; the present subjunctive also uses this stem for these two persons: |
||
::Verb ''recevoir'', present indicative: ''je reçois, tu reçois, il reçoit, nous <u>recev</u>ons, vous recevez, ils <u>reçoiv</u>ent.'' |
::Verb ''recevoir'', present indicative: ''je reçois, tu reçois, il reçoit, nous <u>recev</u>ons, vous recevez, ils <u>reçoiv</u>ent.'' |
||
::Verb ''recevoir'', present subjunctive: ''(que) je <u>reçoiv</u>e, tu <u>reçoiv</u>es, il <u>reçoiv</u>e, nous <u>recev</u>ions, vous <u>recev</u>iez, ils <u>reçoiv</u>ent.'' |
::Verb ''recevoir'', present subjunctive: ''(que) je <u>reçoiv</u>e, tu <u>reçoiv</u>es, il <u>reçoiv</u>e, nous <u>recev</u>ions, vous <u>recev</u>iez, ils <u>reçoiv</u>ent.'' |
||
Line 342: | Line 316: | ||
* Example: |
* Example: |
||
{| |
{| class=wikitable |
||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 353: | Line 327: | ||
| (que) nous parl'''ions''' || (que) nous finiss'''ions''' |
| (que) nous parl'''ions''' || (que) nous finiss'''ions''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| (que) vous |
| (que) vous parl'''iez''' || (que) vous finiss'''iez''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| (qu') ils, elles |
| (qu') ils, elles parl'''ent''' || (qu') ils, elles finiss'''ent''' |
||
|} |
|} |
||
* Irregular endings : {{lang|fr|être}}(que je soi'''s''', que tu soi'''s''', qu'il soi'''t''', que nous so'''''y''ons''', que vous so'''''y''ez''', qu'il soi'''ent''') and ''avoir'' (qu'il ai'''t''', que nous a'''''y''ons''', que vous a'''''y''ez''', the rest are regular) |
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=== Imperfect subjunctive === |
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=== Imperfect subjunctive (''Subjonctif imparfait'')=== |
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The imperfect subjunctive is always constructed from the past historic; hence, if the past historic does not exist ([[#Defective verbs|defective verbs]]) neither will the imperfect subjunctive. To be more exact, the imperfect subjunctive stem consists of the second person singular of the past historic, except that in the third person singular of the imperfect subjunctive the final ''-s-'' of the stem is replaced with a circumflex over the preceding vowel. The stem is otherwise stable for a single verb, and the endings are always: '''''-se, -ses, -t, -sions, -siez, -sent'''''. |
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The imperfect subjunctive is always constructed from the past historic; hence, if the past historic does not exist ([[#Defective verbs|defective verbs]]) neither will the imperfect subjunctive. To be more exact, the imperfect subjunctive stem consists of the second person singular of the past historic, except that in the third person singular of the imperfect subjunctive the final ''-s-'' of the stem is replaced with a circumflex over the preceding vowel. The stem is otherwise stable for a single verb, and the endings are always: '''''-se, -ses, -ˆt, -sions, -siez, -sent''','' pronounced {{IPA|/s, s, -, sjɔ̃, sje, s/}}. |
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:''(Il fallait) que je chantas<u>se</u>, que tu finis<u>ses</u>, qu'il b<u>ût</u>, que nous vins<u>sions</u>, que vous parlas<u>siez</u>, qu'elles rougis<u>sent</u>…'' |
:''(Il fallait) que je chantas<u>se</u>, que tu finis<u>ses</u>, qu'il b<u>ût</u>, que nous vins<u>sions</u>, que vous parlas<u>siez</u>, qu'elles rougis<u>sent</u>…'' |
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* Example: |
* Example: |
||
{| |
{| class=wikitable |
||
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
| ''1st group'' || ''2nd group'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 377: | Line 353: | ||
| (que) nous parl'''assions''' || (que) nous fin'''issions''' |
| (que) nous parl'''assions''' || (que) nous fin'''issions''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| (que) vous |
| (que) vous parl'''assiez''' || (que) vous fin'''issiez''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| (qu') ils, elles |
| (qu') ils, elles parl'''assent''' || (qu') ils, elles fin'''issent''' |
||
|} |
|} |
||
=== Imperative === |
=== Imperative (''Impératif'')=== |
||
Recall two unusual features of the imperative: it exists only in three persons (second singular, first plural and second plural) and its subject pronoun is always omitted. |
Recall two unusual features of the imperative: it exists only in three persons (second singular, first plural and second plural) and its subject pronoun is always omitted. |
||
* Most often, the present imperative is copied from the indicative present (this is always true for verbs from the first two groups). Thus when the present indicative has two alternate forms, so does the present imperative: |
* Most often, the present imperative (''Impératif présent'') is copied from the indicative present (this is always true for verbs from the first two groups). Thus when the present indicative has two alternate forms, so does the present imperative: |
||
:''<u>Asseoir</u> |
:''<u>Asseoir</u>: assieds (assois), asseyons (assoyons), asseyez (assoyez).'' |
||
:''<u>Payer</u> |
:''<u>Payer</u>: paie (paye), payons, payez.'' |
||
* The imperatives of ''avoir'' and ''être'' are based on the present subjunctive, and those of ''savoir'' and ''vouloir'' are irregular: |
* The imperatives of ''avoir'' and ''être'' are based on the present subjunctive, and those of ''savoir'' and ''vouloir'' are irregular: |
||
:''Aie, ayons, ayez. |
:''Aie, ayons, ayez.'' |
||
:''Sois, soyons, soyez.'' |
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:''Sache, sachons, sachez.'' |
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:''Veuille, veuillons, veuillez.'' |
|||
* Note that the '''singular''' of verbs ending in ''-e'' or in ''-a'' in the imperative has no final ''-s''. This applies to all verbs from the 1st group and to some from the 3rd (''assaillir, couvrir, cueillir, défaillir, offrir, ouvrir, souffrir, tressaillir'' and verbs derived from them, as well as the verbs ''aller, avoir, savoir'' et ''vouloir'') |
* Note that the '''singular''' of verbs ending in ''-e'' or in ''-a'' in the imperative has no final ''-s''. This applies to all verbs from the 1st group and to some from the 3rd (''assaillir, couvrir, cueillir, défaillir, offrir, ouvrir, souffrir, tressaillir'' and verbs derived from them, as well as the verbs ''aller, avoir, savoir'' et ''vouloir''): |
||
:''Parle, cueille, va, aie, sache, veuille, fini<u>s</u>, sor<u>s</u>...'' |
:''Parle, cueille, va, aie, sache, veuille, fini<u>s</u>, sor<u>s</u>...'' |
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Line 399: | Line 378: | ||
:''Cueille (cueille<u>s</u>-en). Pense (pense<u>s</u>-y)...'' |
:''Cueille (cueille<u>s</u>-en). Pense (pense<u>s</u>-y)...'' |
||
* Example: |
* Example: |
||
{| |
{| class=wikitable |
||
| '' |
| ''-er verbs'' || ''-ir verbs'' || ''-re verbs'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| parl'''e''' || fin'''is''' |
| parl'''e''' || fin'''is''' || descend'''s''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| parl'''ons''' || fin'''issons''' |
| parl'''ons''' || fin'''issons''' || descend'''ons''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| parl'''ez''' || fin'''issez''' |
| parl'''ez''' || fin'''issez''' || descend'''ez''' |
||
|} |
|} |
||
=== Present participle and gerundive === |
=== Present participle and gerundive === |
||
The present participle (''le participe présent'') is typically formed from the first-person plural of the present indicative by replacing ''-ons'' with ''-ant''. There are exceptions to this, as with ''avoir'', ''être'', and ''savoir'' (whose present participles are ''ayant'', ''étant'', and ''sachant'', respectively), but in all cases the present participle ends in ''-ant''. |
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* The ending for the present participle and the gerundive (recall that these two forms are invariant) is always '''''-ant'''''. |
|||
* The stem is generally derived from that of the first person plural of the present indicative (except for the verbs ''avoir'', ''être'' and ''savoir''). But it may be irregular (usually in the third conjugation): |
|||
The gerundive (''le gérondif'') consists of the preposition ''en'' together with the present participle; for example, the present participle of ''faire'' is ''faisant'', so its gerundive is ''en faisant''. |
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:''Parler : (en) parl<u>ant</u>. Voir : (en) voy<u>ant</u>. Savoir : (en) sach<u>ant</u>…'' |
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The present participle and the gerundive are both invariable; that is, they do not change form to agree with any other part of a sentence. |
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=== Past participle === |
=== Past participle === |
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Past participles, unlike present participles and gerundives, may be inflected to show gender and number by adding ''-e'' and ''-s'', as with a normal adjective. Hence, "un fruit ''confit''", "une poire confit''e''", "des fruits confit''s''", and "des poires confit''es''." As they are passive participles, this inflection only occurs with transitive verbs, and with certain reflexive verbs. |
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The stem of the past participle may be irregular, but is in principle stable. Its ending, unlike the present participle and gerundive which are invariant, may be inflected to show number and gender. |
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The plain (masculine singular) form of a past participle may end in ''-é'' (1st group verbs, '''naître''' [''né''], '''être''' [''été''] and '''aller''' [''allé'']), ''-i'' (2nd group; '''sortir''' [''sorti''], '''partir''' [''parti''], etc.), ''-u'' ('''entendre''' [''entendu''], '''boire''' [''bu''], '''lire''' [''lu''], etc. and '''savoir''' [''su''], '''voir''' [''vu''], '''pouvoir''' [''pu'']), ''-is'' ('''mettre''' [''mis''], '''prendre''' [''pris''], etc.), ''-us'' ('''inclure''' [''inclus''] and '''reclure''' [''reclus''] and only these verbs), ''-it'' ('''maudire''', [''maudit''], '''dire''' [''dit''], etc.),''-t'' (verbs in ''-indre'' : '''peindre''' [''peint'']), ''-ert'' ('''ouvrir''' [''ouvert''], '''couvrir''' [''couvert''], '''offrir''' [''offert''] and '''souffrir''' [''souffert'']), or ''eu'' ('''avoir''' [''eu'']). |
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* Whether the past participle is used as a '''true verbal form''' (with or without auxiliary) or as an [[attributive]] adjective, its stem is stable for a single verb, but its ending may be inflected according to the rules of [[agreement]] for an attributive adjective. Thus from the masculine singular form, the feminine singular is obtained by appending an ''-e'', the masculine plural by appending an ''-s'' and the feminine plural by appending ''-es'': |
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:''Un fruit confit, une poire confit<u>e</u> / Des fruits confit<u>s</u>, des poires confit<u>es</u>.'' |
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=== Verbal adjective (''Adjectif verbal'')=== |
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* However, certain past participles are '''invariant''': |
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:''Agi'' [verb ''s'agir'']; ''dormi; été; fallu; neigé; nui; plu; pu; ri; suffi...'' |
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*For most verbs, the verbal adjective is nearly the same as the present participle, however the verbal adjectif is inflected as an adjective, e.g. le garçon sautant (''the jumping boy''), la fille sautant'''e''' (''the jumping girl''), les garçons sautant'''s''' (''the jumping boys''), les filles sautant'''es''' (''the jumping girls''). This is called the '''Present verbal adjective''' (''Adjectif verbal présent''). The past participle can act as the '''Past verbal adjective''' (''Adjectif verbal passé'') (e.g. la fille sauvé'''e''' (''the girl that has been rescued'')). |
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* The masculine singular form of a past participle may end in '''''-é''''', '''''-i''''', '''''-u''''', '''''-s''''' or '''''-t''''', depending on which group it belongs to: |
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*However some verbs are irregular, their verbal adjective slightly differs from their present participle (most of these irregular verbs have a verbal adjective ending on '''ent''' instead of '''ant'''). A relative construction is almost always preferred to the present verbal adjective (e.g. ''les garçons qui sautent'' preferred to ''les garçons sautants''), especially when there is a risk of orthographic confusion in some irregular cases (e.g. adj. ''résident'' vs. verb. adj. ''résidant'', pronounced exactly the same, with only a slightest distinction of meaning). |
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:- Past participle ending in ''-é'' : ''parlé'' [''parler'', 1st group]; ''né'' [''naître'', 3rd group]; |
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:- Past participle ending in ''-i'' : ''fini'' [''finir'', 2nd group]; ''sorti'' [''sortir'', 3rd group]; |
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:- Past participle ending in ''-u'' : ''entendu'' [''entendre'', 3rd group]; |
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:- Past participle ending in ''-s'' : ''pris'' [''prendre'', 3rd group]; |
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:- Past participle ending in ''-t'' : ''ouvert'' [''ouvrir'', 3rd group]; |
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Irregular verbs: |
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**Present Infinitive (''Infinitif présent'') - Verbal adjective (''Adjectif verbal'') - present participle (''Participe présent'') - Translation |
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**adhérer - adhérent - adhérant - to adhere |
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**affluer - affluent - affluant - to rush |
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**coïncider - coïncident - coïncidant - to coincide |
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**communiquer - communicant - communiquant - to communicate |
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**confluer - confluent - confluant - to meet (for rivers) |
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**convaincre - convaincant - convainquant - to persuade |
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**converger - convergent - convergeant - to converge |
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**déléguer - délégant - déléguant - to delegate |
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**déterger - détergent - détergeant - to wash |
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**différer - différent - différant - to differ |
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**diverger - divergent - divergeant - to diverge |
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**exceller - excellent - excellant - to excel |
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**équivaloir - équivalent - équivalant - to equal |
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**fatiguer - fatigant - fatiguant - to wear, to tire |
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**influer - influent - influant - to affect |
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**intriguer - intrigant - intriguant - to intrigue |
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**naviguer - navigant - naviguant - to navigate |
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**négliger - négligent - négligeant - to neglect |
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**précéder - précédent - précédant - to precede |
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**provoquer - provocant - provoquant - to provoke |
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**suffoquer - suffocant - suffoquant - to suffocate |
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**vaincre - vaincant - vainquant - to conquer |
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**valoir - valent - valant - to be worth |
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**violer - violent - violant - to assault |
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**vaquer - vacant - vaquant - to take a break |
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=== Verbal adverb (''Adverbe verbal'')=== |
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Some conjugations can be incomplete: certain tenses, certain moods or certain persons do not exist. Such conjugations are said to be '''defective'''. The so-called defective verbs include: |
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Out of the present verbal adjectif, a present verbal adverb (''adverbe verbal présent'') can be formed for every verb by replacing '''nt''' with '''{{lang|fr|italic=no|mment}}''': |
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*courir - courant - couramment - to run |
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*précéder - précédent - précédemment - to precede |
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Out of the past verbal adjectif, a past verbal adverb (''adverbe verbal passé'') can be formed for some verbs by adding '''ment''': |
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*assurer - assuré - assurément - to ascertain |
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== Defective verbs == |
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* Some '''archaic verbs''' which are only used in certain persons or in certain fixed expressions (''accroire'', ''choir'', ''clore'', ''ester'', ''férir'', ''gésir'', ''occire'', ''ouïr'', ''poindre'', ''quérir'', etc.) |
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:''Ci-<u>gît</u> un homme irremplaçable. <u>Oyez</u>, <u>oyez</u>, braves gens ! Je l'ai obtenu sans coup <u>férir</u>.'' |
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Some verbs have incomplete conjugations: they do not have forms for certain tenses, moods, or persons. Such verbs are said to be ''[[Defective verb|defective]]''. They include: |
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* Some intrinsically '''impersonal verbs''' (''falloir'', ''pleuvoir'', ''s'agir'', ''importer'', etc.): |
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:''Il <u>fallait</u> que tu viennes. Il <u>tonne</u>. Il <u>s'agit</u> de réussir.'' |
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* some archaic verbs that survive only in very narrow contexts, such as ''accroire'', ''choir'', ''clore'', ''ester'', ''férir'', ''gésir'', ''occire'', ''ouïr'', ''poindre'', and ''quérir''. Hence, we have "Ci-''gît'' un homme irremplaçable", "''Oyez'', ''oyez'', braves gens !", and "Je l'ai obtenu sans coup ''férir''." |
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* Verbs for which some forms are '''useless''' (''barrir'', ''éclore'', ''pulluler'', etc.): |
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* necessarily [[impersonal verb]]s, such as ''falloir'', ''pleuvoir'', ''s'agir'', and ''importer''. Hence, we have "Il ''fallait'' que tu viennes", "Il ''tonne''", and "Il ''s'agit'' de réussir." |
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:''Les moustiques <u>pullulent</u>. Les fleurs <u>éclosent</u>. L'âne <u>brait</u>.'' |
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* some other verbs for which certain forms are useless, such as ''barrir'', ''éclore'', and ''pulluler''. Hence, we have "Les moustiques ''pullulent''", "Les fleurs ''éclosent''", and "L'âne ''brait''." |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[French grammar]] |
*[[French grammar]] |
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*[[French verbs]] |
*[[French verbs]] |
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*[[French conjugation]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*This article is based on a translation of the [[:fr: |
*This article is based on a translation of the [[:fr:Morphologie du verbe français|corresponding article]] from the French Wikipedia, accessed 21 April 2005. |
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*{{cite book |
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|title=The Sounds of French: An Introduction |
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|isbn=0-521-31510-7 |
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|first=Bernard |
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|last=Tranel |
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|location=Cambridge, New York |
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|publisher=Cambridge University Press |
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|year=1987 |
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|url-access=registration |
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|url=https://archive.org/details/soundsoffrenchin0000tran |
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}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.dudziak.com/verbs.php A Two-Page PDF Reference Guide of the 681 Most Common French/English Verbs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223122327/http://www.dudziak.com/verbs.php |date=23 February 2011 }} |
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*[http://www.capeutservir.com/verbes/ 9000 French verb conjugations] |
*[http://www.capeutservir.com/verbes/ 9000 French verb conjugations] |
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*[http://sourceforge.net/projects/fvcr/ Open source database of French verb conjugation rules] |
*[http://sourceforge.net/projects/fvcr/ Open source database of French verb conjugation rules] |
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{{Language verbs}} |
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[[fr:Morphologie_du_verbe_fran%C3%A7ais]] |
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[[Category:French language]] |
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[[Category:French grammar|Verb morphology]] |
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[[Category:Linguistic morphology]] |
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[[Category:Indo-European verbs]] |
Latest revision as of 13:29, 27 November 2024
Part of a series on the |
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Orthography |
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In French, a verb is inflected to reflect its mood and tense, as well as to agree with its subject in person and number. Following the tradition of Latin grammar, the set of inflected forms of a French verb is called the verb's conjugation.
Stems and endings
[edit]French verbs have a large number of simple (one-word) forms. These are composed of two distinct parts: the stem (or root, or radix), which indicates which verb it is, and the ending (inflection), which indicates the verb's tense (imperfect, present, future etc.) and mood and its subject's person (I, you, he/she etc.) and number, though many endings can correspond to multiple tense-mood-subject combinations. In certain parts of the second conjugation there is also a suffix -iss- between the stem and the ending, which derives historically from an inchoative suffix.
- In parlaient, the stem parl- indicates that the verb is parler (to speak) and the ending -aient marks the third-person plural imperfect indicative. "Third person plural" meaning the subject of the verb is "they". The "imperfect indicative" being a tense.
- In finissons, the stem fin- indicates that the verb is finir (to finish), the suffix -iss- follows it, and the inflection -ons marks the first-person plural present indicative or imperative. The "first-person plural" is the "we" form of a verb. The "present indicative" being a tense and "imperative" being a mood, but in French they are indistinguishable without context.
These verb conjugations are most often coupled with a subject pronoun to reinforce who the subject of the verb is (i.e. who is doing the action). Note that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the stem from the ending, especially in irregular verbs such as avoir (to have), aller (to go), dire (to say), être (to be), faire (to do, make), pouvoir (can), savoir (to know), valoir (to be worth, to cost), and vouloir (to want):
- Il va travailler. (He goes to work.)
- Es-tu là ? (Are you there?)
- Elle a rougi. (She blushed.)
In these examples, there is no obvious stem – the verbs conjugate without a stem.
The principle of the fixed stem
[edit]The stem normally stays fixed in the first two conjugations:
- Parler: Je parlerais, tu parlas, qu'ils parlassent, que nous parlions, parlez...
- Finir: Je finirais, vous finîtes, qu'ils finissent, finis, que nous finissions...
In the third it is often modified, sometimes even between persons in the same tense:
- Vouloir: Je veux, tu veux, il veut, nous voulons, vous voulez, ils veulent.
But such irregularities apart, the principle is that nothing is removed from the stem. Consequently, verbs ending in -guer and -quer keep the -gu- or -qu- throughout the conjugation, even where simplifying this combination to -g- or -c- would be consistent with the rules of French orthography:
- Naviguer: nous naviguons, je naviguais, en naviguant...
- Provoquer: nous provoquons, je provoquais, en provoquant...
Adding to the stem to preserve the pronunciation
[edit]But although things are generally not removed from the stem, it is permissible to add letters when this is necessary. Certain stems can undergo various orthographic changes (which are not strictly speaking considered to be irregularities) in order to retain the correct pronunciation:
- The -c- in certain stems receives a cedilla before any ending which would otherwise change its pronunciation:
- Avancer: j'avance, nous avançons, j'avançais…
- Apercevoir: j'aperçois, tu aperçus, nous apercevons…
- The -g- in certain stems is followed by a silent -e- before any ending which would otherwise change its pronunciation:
- Manger: je mange, nous mangeons, je mangeais, vous mangiez, en mangeant…
Endings (terminaisons)
[edit]The ending is a suffix which tells us:
- For all verbs, the mood and the tense;
- For finite verbs, the person and the number; and
- For the past participle alone, the gender and the number.
Apart from a few frequent verbs which are considered totally irregular (mainly avoir, être, aller and faire), for each tense of each mood a series of six endings (one for each person singular and plural) is associated with a group or subgroup of verbs. Each of these series must now remain fixed throughout a single tense. Consequently, no ending may be modified even when orthographical simplification would be possible:
- For example, when the verb stem ends in a vowel (crier, fuir, tuer, voir, etc.), the -e- of the ending may become silent but must still be written (in the present, future, and conditional):
- Fuir (to flee), present subjunctive: que je fuie, que tu fuies, qu'il fuie, que nous fuyions, que vous fuyiez, qu'ils fuient…
- Créer (to create), future indicative: je créerai, tu créeras, il créera, nous créerons, vous créerez, ils créeront…
- Similarly, the imperfect indicative and present subjunctive endings for the first and second persons plural are -ions et -iez: for verbs such as gagner, voir, rire, briller, etc., the -i- of these endings must be retained, even though some speakers pronounce them the same way as the present indicative forms without -i-:[1]
- Nous gagnions (vs. gagnons), vous voyiez (vs. voyez), nous riions (vs. rions), vous brilliez (vs. brillez), …
Formation of simple tenses active
[edit]These tenses are not formed with an auxiliary, and their formation is discussed in the following section.
Infinitive (Infinitif)
[edit]A verb is normally named by its present infinitive (Infinitif présent). Starting from this infinitive, the conjugations can be classified into three different groups:
- The first group or first conjugation. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in -er /e/ (with the exception of aller, which due to its numerous irregularities is usually classed as being in the third conjugation):
- Aimer, balayer, chanter, envoyer, fermer, manger, passer, payer, promener, regarder, etc.
- For example, for the verb parler, the stem is parl- and the ending is -er /e/.
- The second group or second conjugation. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in -ir /iʀ/ whose present participle ends in -issant /isɑ̃/:
- Bénir, compatir, déguerpir, fleurir, grandir, haïr, investir, polir, rougir, rugir, salir, etc.
- For example, for the verb finir, the stem is fin- and the ending is -ir.
- The third group or third conjugation. This contains all the other verbs, all considered as to some extent irregular, to wit: the verbs ending in -ir not belonging to the second conjugation, the verbs ending in -oir, the verbs ending in -re, and the verb aller:
- Conduire, connaître, dire, dormir, exclure, faire, mettre, plaindre, prendre, résoudre, savoir, vivre, etc.
- Examples:
- courir – the stem is cour- and the ending is -ir /iʁ/.
- devoir – the stem is dev- and the ending is -oir /waʁ/.
- rendre – the stem is rend- and the ending is -re /ʁ/.
- aller – the stem is all- and the ending is -er /e/.
- Examples:
Note that the auxiliaries être and avoir, although they would naturally seem to belong to the third conjugation, are traditionally classed separately.
Present indicative (Indicatif présent)
[edit]The present indicative is the form of the verb used to describe an action in the present e.g. Je parle means "I speak" or "I am speaking".
The stem of the present indicative is not always regular and can vary (especially in the third conjugation) and there are three main sets of endings:
- Verbs ending in -er (all verbs of the first group): -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent, pronounced /ᵊ, ᵊ, ᵊ, ˈɔ̃, ˈe, ᵊ/.
- Verbs ending in -ir (all verbs of the second group and most of the third): -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent, pronounced /ˈi, ˈi, ˈi, isˈɔ̃, isˈe, ˈis/. But there are numerous irregularities, especially in the third group.
- Verbs ending in -re (part of the third group): -s, -s, - , -ons, -ez, -ent, pronounced /, , , ˈɔ̃, ˈe, /.
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group | 3rd group | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Parler (to speak) | Finir (to finish) | Descendre (to go/get down) | ||
1st person | singular | je parle | je finis | je descends |
plural | nous parlons | nous finissons | nous descendons | |
2nd person | singular | tu parles | tu finis | tu descends |
plural | vous parlez | vous finissez | vous descendez | |
3rd person | singular | il/elle/on parle | il/elle/on finit | il/elle/on descend |
Plural | ils/elles parlent | ils/elles finissent | ils/elles descendent |
- Verbs of the second group take an -iss- in the plural conjugations.
- Verbs of the third group:
- Verbs ending in -oir : the indicative present stems depend on the verb. The endings are -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent. However, verbs pouvoir, valoir, équivaloir and vouloir have -x, -x, -t in singular (je peux, tu peux, je (j'équi)vaux, tu (équi)vaux, je veux, tu veux).
- Verbs in -re : endings are the same, stems are equally irregular. There are verbs dire, faire and être which have -tes instead of -ez and other irregularities. Verbs with -ttre have -ts, -ts, -t in singular (je mets for mettre, tu bats for battre). Verbs with -dre have endings -ds, -ds, -d in singular (e.g. : je prends, tu mouds, il répand) except verbs in -indre and -soudre (Verbs in -soudre in plural: -solvons, -solvez, -solvent). Verbs vaincre and convaincre have -cs, -cs, -c in singular (je (con)vaincs, tu (con)vaincs, il (con)vainc).
- Verbs in -ir : endings are the same as the second group in singular, and they have regular ending of third group in plural.
Imperfect indicative (Indicatif imparfait)
[edit]The imperfect indicative is a past tense, where the action either continues into the present or is a repeated action e.g. "je parlais" means "I was speaking" or "I used to speak". It may be used when someone or their action is interrupted e.g. "je parlais avant que tu m'arrêtes" meaning "I was speaking before you stopped me"
- The stem of the imperfect indicative is always invariant for a single verb. It is derived from the first person plural of the present indicative (except for the verb être):
- Verb boire, present indicative: je bois, tu bois, il boit, nous buvons, vous buvez, ils boivent.
- Verb boire, imperfect indicative: je buvais, tu buvais, il buvait, nous buvions, vous buviez, ils buvaient.
- The endings of this tense are for any of the three groups always: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient, pronounced /ɛ, ɛ, ɛ, jɔ̃, je, ɛ/.
- For the 1st and 3rd groups, the -i- of the first and second persons plural must always be kept even though it may not be reflected in the pronunciation of certain verbs:
- Nous travaillions, vous travailliez, nous riions, vous riiez, nous essuyions, vous essuyiez, nous gagnions, vous gagniez, nous tressaillions, vous tressailliez, nous priions, vous priiez...
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group |
je parlais | je finissais |
tu parlais | tu finissais |
il, elle, on parlait | il, elle, on finissait |
nous parlions | nous finissions |
vous parliez | vous finissiez |
ils parlaient | ils, elles finissaient |
- In older texts, one can find the endings -ois, -ois, -oit, -ions, -iez, -oient, corresponding to the orthography of Old French. This spelling coexisted with the modern endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient and was not officially abandoned by the Académie française until 1835.[2]
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group |
je parlois | je finissois |
tu parlois | tu finissois |
il, elle, on parloit | il, elle, on finissoit |
nous parlions | nous finissions |
vous parliez | vous finissiez |
ils parloient | ils, elles finissoient |
- Verb être : the stem is ét- (/et/), endings are the same.
Past historic (Indicatif passé simple or Indicatif passé défini)
[edit]Note that in modern language this tense is used only in formal writing, usually referring to historical, historic events, or in novels; it was replaced by passé composé in other contexts. The stem of the past historic tense is not always regular but is always invariant for a single verb. There are four sets of endings for this tense:
- Past historic in -a-: -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent. [1st group and aller]
- (pronounced /e, a, a, ɑm, ɑt, ɛʀ/.)
- Past historic in -i-: -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent. [2nd and 3rd groups]
- (pronounced /i, i, i, im, it, iʀ/.)
- Past historic in -u-: -us, -us, -ut, -ûmes, -ûtes, -urent. [3rd group]
- (pronounced /y, y, y, ym, yt, yʀ/.)
- Past historic in -in-: -ins, -ins, -int, -înmes, -întes, -inrent. [verbs venir, tenir and all the verbs which are formed with them (survenir, maintenir, etc.)]
- (pronounced /ɛ̃, ɛ̃, ɛ̃, ɛ̃m, ɛ̃t, ɛ̃ʀ/.)
- Je chantai, je finis, je bus, je vins…
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group |
je parlai | je finis |
tu parlas | tu finis |
il, elle, on parla | il, elle, on finit |
nous parlâmes | nous finîmes |
vous parlâtes | vous finîtes |
ils, elles parlèrent | ils, elles finirent |
Future (Indicatif futur simple)
[edit]The future endings correspond to the present indicative of the verb avoir. They are always regular: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont, pronounced /e, a, a, ɔ̃, e, ɔ̃/.
- Between the future stem and these endings the infinitive ending is inserted, though the pronunciation of the -er infinitive changes from /e/ to /(ə)ʀ/ In other words, to form the future tense these endings are appended to the infinitive:
- Je finirai, tu parleras, elle sortira, nous travaillerons, vous rougirez, ils partiront.
- But there are several irregular future stems, especially in the third group.
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group | 3rd group |
je parlerai | je finirai | je descendrai |
tu parleras | tu finiras | tu descendras |
il, elle, on parlera | il, elle, on finira | il, elle, on descendra |
nous parlerons | nous finirons | nous descendrons |
vous parlerez | vous finirez | vous descendrez |
ils, elles parleront | ils, elles finiront | ils, elles descendront |
The following verbs have a double r in future forms: envoyer, renvoyer (j'enverrai, je renverrai), mourir (je mourrai), courir (je courrai), choir and échoir (il cherra, il écherra), acquérir and conquérir (j'acquerrai, je conquerrai), voir (je verrai), pouvoir (je pourrai).
Present conditional (Conditionnel présent)
[edit]The conditional endings correspond to those of the imperfect indicative. They too are always regular: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient, and in some rare cases, -it, pronounced /ɛ, ɛ, ɛ, jɔ̃, je, ɛ/...
- The conditional stem is always the same as the future stem:
- Je finirais, tu parlerais, elle sortirait, nous travaillerions, vous rougiriez, ils partiraient.
- Consequently, if the future stem is irregular, so will the conditional be, and vice versa. Moreover, if the future does not exist (defective verbs) neither will the conditional.
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group | 3rd group |
je parlerais | je finirais | je descendrais |
tu parlerais | tu finirais | tu descendrais |
il, elle, on parlerait | il, elle, on finirait | il, elle, on descendrait |
nous parlerions | nous finirions | nous descendrions |
vous parleriez | vous finiriez | vous descendriez |
ils, elles parleraient | ils, elles finiraient | ils, elles descendraient |
Sometimes the past imperfect subjunctive is used to replace the present conditional. This form is called the present conditional second form (Conditionnel présent deuxième forme). In contrast the regular conditional is then called present conditional first form (Conditionnel présent première forme). This has become very unusual, only in sentences starting with Même si and the expression fût-ce this form is still used. The perfective tense (the past conditional second form (Conditionnel passé deuxième forme) is however used very often in literature.
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group |
je parlasse | je finisse |
tu parlasses | tu finisses |
il, elle, on parlât | il, elle, on finît |
nous parlassions | nous finissions |
vous parlassiez | vous finissiez |
ils, elles parlassent | ils, elles finissent |
Present subjunctive (Subjonctif présent)
[edit]- The present subjunctive endings are for all three groups (except the verbs être and avoir): -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent, pronounced /ᵊ, ᵊ, ᵊ, jɔ̃, je, ᵊ/.
- For the 1st and 3rd groups, the -i- of the first and second persons plural must always be kept even though it may not be reflected in the pronunciation of certain verbs:
- (Il faut) que nous travaillions, que vous travailliez, que nous riions, que vous riiez, que nous essuyions, que vous essuyiez, que nous gagnions, que vous gagniez, que nous tressaillions, que vous tressailliez, que nous priions, que vous priiez. Exceptions: que nous ayons, que vous ayez, que nous soyons, que vous soyez...
- The present subjunctive stem is generally derived from the third person plural of the present indicative (except for the verbs aller, avoir, être, faire, falloir, pouvoir, savoir, traire, valoir, and vouloir, which have irregular stems):
- Verb craindre, present indicative: je crains, tu crains, il craint, nous craignons, vous craignez, ils craignent.
- Verb craindre, present subjunctive: (que) je craigne, tu craignes, il craigne, nous craignions, vous craigniez, ils craignent.
- Verb faire, present indicative: je fais, tu fais, il fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils font.
- Verb faire, present subjunctive: (que) je fasse, tu fasses, il fasse, nous fassions, vous fassiez, ils fassent.
- But sometimes when in the present indicative the stem used for the first and second persons plural differs from that used for the other four persons; the present subjunctive also uses this stem for these two persons:
- Verb recevoir, present indicative: je reçois, tu reçois, il reçoit, nous recevons, vous recevez, ils reçoivent.
- Verb recevoir, present subjunctive: (que) je reçoive, tu reçoives, il reçoive, nous recevions, vous receviez, ils reçoivent.
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group |
(il faut que) je parle | (il faut que) je finisse |
(que) tu parles | (que) tu finisses |
(qu') il, elle, on parle | (qu') il, elle, on finisse |
(que) nous parlions | (que) nous finissions |
(que) vous parliez | (que) vous finissiez |
(qu') ils, elles parlent | (qu') ils, elles finissent |
- Irregular endings : être(que je sois, que tu sois, qu'il soit, que nous soyons, que vous soyez, qu'il soient) and avoir (qu'il ait, que nous ayons, que vous ayez, the rest are regular)
Imperfect subjunctive (Subjonctif imparfait)
[edit]The imperfect subjunctive is always constructed from the past historic; hence, if the past historic does not exist (defective verbs) neither will the imperfect subjunctive. To be more exact, the imperfect subjunctive stem consists of the second person singular of the past historic, except that in the third person singular of the imperfect subjunctive the final -s- of the stem is replaced with a circumflex over the preceding vowel. The stem is otherwise stable for a single verb, and the endings are always: -se, -ses, -ˆt, -sions, -siez, -sent, pronounced /s, s, -, sjɔ̃, sje, s/.
- (Il fallait) que je chantasse, que tu finisses, qu'il bût, que nous vinssions, que vous parlassiez, qu'elles rougissent…
- Example:
1st group | 2nd group |
(il faut que) je parlasse | (il faut que) je finisse |
(que) tu parlasses | (que) tu finisses |
(qu') il, elle, on parlât | (qu') il, elle, on finît |
(que) nous parlassions | (que) nous finissions |
(que) vous parlassiez | (que) vous finissiez |
(qu') ils, elles parlassent | (qu') ils, elles finissent |
Imperative (Impératif)
[edit]Recall two unusual features of the imperative: it exists only in three persons (second singular, first plural and second plural) and its subject pronoun is always omitted.
- Most often, the present imperative (Impératif présent) is copied from the indicative present (this is always true for verbs from the first two groups). Thus when the present indicative has two alternate forms, so does the present imperative:
- Asseoir: assieds (assois), asseyons (assoyons), asseyez (assoyez).
- Payer: paie (paye), payons, payez.
- The imperatives of avoir and être are based on the present subjunctive, and those of savoir and vouloir are irregular:
- Aie, ayons, ayez.
- Sois, soyons, soyez.
- Sache, sachons, sachez.
- Veuille, veuillons, veuillez.
- Note that the singular of verbs ending in -e or in -a in the imperative has no final -s. This applies to all verbs from the 1st group and to some from the 3rd (assaillir, couvrir, cueillir, défaillir, offrir, ouvrir, souffrir, tressaillir and verbs derived from them, as well as the verbs aller, avoir, savoir et vouloir):
- Parle, cueille, va, aie, sache, veuille, finis, sors...
- However, for euphonic reasons this -s reappears if the imperative is immediately followed by one of the indirect object pronouns en and y:
- Cueille (cueilles-en). Pense (penses-y)...
- Example:
-er verbs | -ir verbs | -re verbs |
parle | finis | descends |
parlons | finissons | descendons |
parlez | finissez | descendez |
Present participle and gerundive
[edit]The present participle (le participe présent) is typically formed from the first-person plural of the present indicative by replacing -ons with -ant. There are exceptions to this, as with avoir, être, and savoir (whose present participles are ayant, étant, and sachant, respectively), but in all cases the present participle ends in -ant.
The gerundive (le gérondif) consists of the preposition en together with the present participle; for example, the present participle of faire is faisant, so its gerundive is en faisant.
The present participle and the gerundive are both invariable; that is, they do not change form to agree with any other part of a sentence.
Past participle
[edit]Past participles, unlike present participles and gerundives, may be inflected to show gender and number by adding -e and -s, as with a normal adjective. Hence, "un fruit confit", "une poire confite", "des fruits confits", and "des poires confites." As they are passive participles, this inflection only occurs with transitive verbs, and with certain reflexive verbs.
The plain (masculine singular) form of a past participle may end in -é (1st group verbs, naître [né], être [été] and aller [allé]), -i (2nd group; sortir [sorti], partir [parti], etc.), -u (entendre [entendu], boire [bu], lire [lu], etc. and savoir [su], voir [vu], pouvoir [pu]), -is (mettre [mis], prendre [pris], etc.), -us (inclure [inclus] and reclure [reclus] and only these verbs), -it (maudire, [maudit], dire [dit], etc.),-t (verbs in -indre : peindre [peint]), -ert (ouvrir [ouvert], couvrir [couvert], offrir [offert] and souffrir [souffert]), or eu (avoir [eu]).
Verbal adjective (Adjectif verbal)
[edit]- For most verbs, the verbal adjective is nearly the same as the present participle, however the verbal adjectif is inflected as an adjective, e.g. le garçon sautant (the jumping boy), la fille sautante (the jumping girl), les garçons sautants (the jumping boys), les filles sautantes (the jumping girls). This is called the Present verbal adjective (Adjectif verbal présent). The past participle can act as the Past verbal adjective (Adjectif verbal passé) (e.g. la fille sauvée (the girl that has been rescued)).
- However some verbs are irregular, their verbal adjective slightly differs from their present participle (most of these irregular verbs have a verbal adjective ending on ent instead of ant). A relative construction is almost always preferred to the present verbal adjective (e.g. les garçons qui sautent preferred to les garçons sautants), especially when there is a risk of orthographic confusion in some irregular cases (e.g. adj. résident vs. verb. adj. résidant, pronounced exactly the same, with only a slightest distinction of meaning).
Irregular verbs:
- Present Infinitive (Infinitif présent) - Verbal adjective (Adjectif verbal) - present participle (Participe présent) - Translation
- adhérer - adhérent - adhérant - to adhere
- affluer - affluent - affluant - to rush
- coïncider - coïncident - coïncidant - to coincide
- communiquer - communicant - communiquant - to communicate
- confluer - confluent - confluant - to meet (for rivers)
- convaincre - convaincant - convainquant - to persuade
- converger - convergent - convergeant - to converge
- déléguer - délégant - déléguant - to delegate
- déterger - détergent - détergeant - to wash
- différer - différent - différant - to differ
- diverger - divergent - divergeant - to diverge
- exceller - excellent - excellant - to excel
- équivaloir - équivalent - équivalant - to equal
- fatiguer - fatigant - fatiguant - to wear, to tire
- influer - influent - influant - to affect
- intriguer - intrigant - intriguant - to intrigue
- naviguer - navigant - naviguant - to navigate
- négliger - négligent - négligeant - to neglect
- précéder - précédent - précédant - to precede
- provoquer - provocant - provoquant - to provoke
- suffoquer - suffocant - suffoquant - to suffocate
- vaincre - vaincant - vainquant - to conquer
- valoir - valent - valant - to be worth
- violer - violent - violant - to assault
- vaquer - vacant - vaquant - to take a break
Verbal adverb (Adverbe verbal)
[edit]Out of the present verbal adjectif, a present verbal adverb (adverbe verbal présent) can be formed for every verb by replacing nt with mment:
- courir - courant - couramment - to run
- précéder - précédent - précédemment - to precede
Out of the past verbal adjectif, a past verbal adverb (adverbe verbal passé) can be formed for some verbs by adding ment:
- assurer - assuré - assurément - to ascertain
Defective verbs
[edit]Some verbs have incomplete conjugations: they do not have forms for certain tenses, moods, or persons. Such verbs are said to be defective. They include:
- some archaic verbs that survive only in very narrow contexts, such as accroire, choir, clore, ester, férir, gésir, occire, ouïr, poindre, and quérir. Hence, we have "Ci-gît un homme irremplaçable", "Oyez, oyez, braves gens !", and "Je l'ai obtenu sans coup férir."
- necessarily impersonal verbs, such as falloir, pleuvoir, s'agir, and importer. Hence, we have "Il fallait que tu viennes", "Il tonne", and "Il s'agit de réussir."
- some other verbs for which certain forms are useless, such as barrir, éclore, and pulluler. Hence, we have "Les moustiques pullulent", "Les fleurs éclosent", and "L'âne brait."
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Other speakers maintain a distinction between, for example, voyez [vwaje] and voyiez [vwajjez] (Tranel 1987, pp. 120–21).
- ^ Cabinet de curosités, L'histoire de l'imparfait
References
[edit]- This article is based on a translation of the corresponding article from the French Wikipedia, accessed 21 April 2005.
- Tranel, Bernard (1987). The Sounds of French: An Introduction. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-31510-7.