Lire, écrire and similar: -is / -it / long plural stem
Third Group — -IRE Verbs (The Lire / Écrire Model)
Some -ire verbs form a special family in French.
Why They Form a Special Family
These verbs are not fully regular:
- Singular forms usually keep a short, stable stem
- Plural forms often modify the stem slightly
- They follow the third-group endings
Understanding this family helps learners predict forms without memorizing each verb individually.
Conjugation of LIRE (to read)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | lis |
| tu | lis |
| il / elle / on | lit |
| nous | lisons |
| vous | lisez |
| ils / elles | lisent |
👉 Plural forms add a s to the stem to preserve pronunciation.
Conjugation of ÉCRIRE (to write)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| j’ | écris |
| tu | écris |
| il / elle / on | écrit |
| nous | écrivons |
| vous | écrivez |
| ils / elles | écrivent |
👉 Plural forms add a v to the stem to preserve pronunciation.
Close Relative: DIRE (to say / tell)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | dis |
| tu | dis |
| il / elle / on | dit |
| nous | disons |
| vous | dites |
| ils / elles | disent |
👉 Plural forms add a s to the stem to preserve pronunciation. ⚠️ The form vous dites is unique in French — no other verb has this ending
Close Relative: RIRE (to laugh)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | ris |
| tu | ris |
| il / elle / on | rit |
| nous | rions |
| vous | riez |
| ils / elles | rient |
👉 Same terminaisons, but the stem doesn't change.
Why This Family Is Important
These verbs are:
- Extremely frequent in spoken and written French
- Useful for daily conversations
- A manageable group once you understand the singular vs plural stem pattern
Important Note 1
Once you know how to conjugate Lire, you can conjugate any verb ending in -uire just by adding an S in the plural forms. These are essential for discussing creativity, movement, and even cooking!
Key Takeaways
- LIRE and ÉCRIRE are the core verbs; DIRE and RIRE are close relatives.
- Singular forms use a short, stable stem.
- Plural forms often modify the stem (ÉCRIRE adds v, DIRE adds s).
- Vous dites is a unique form in French.
- Learning the pattern allows you to conjugate multiple verbs at once.
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
Quizzes and spaced repetition for every tense, for free on your phone—plus short grammar guides on our Learn hub.
