Regular -er verbs in the present (first group)
-ER verbs — The First Group (The Regular Model)
Now that you understand verb groups, we can start with the easiest and most important one:
the first group (-er verbs).
This is the foundation of French conjugation.
Why the First Group Is So Important
The first group is:
- The largest verb group in French
- About 90% of all French verbs
- The most regular and predictable
This means once you learn this pattern, you can conjugate thousands of verbs.
The General Rule
For regular -er verbs, conjugation follows a simple process:
Remove -er → add present tense endings
The present tense endings are always:
| Subject | Ending |
|---|---|
| je | -e |
| tu | -es |
| il / elle / on | -e |
| nous | -ons |
| vous | -ez |
| ils / elles | -ent |
These endings are extremely stable across the entire group.
Example Model: AIMER (to like)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | aime |
| tu | aimes |
| il / elle / on | aime |
| nous | aimons |
| vous | aimez |
| ils / elles | aiment |
Example Model: CHANTER (to sing)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | chante |
| tu | chantes |
| il / elle / on | chante |
| nous | chantons |
| vous | chantez |
| ils / elles | chantent |
👉 Notice: -e, -es, and -ent are all pronounced the same. They sound like a simple “uh” (a neutral vowel sound).
Key Takeaways
- The first group includes about 90% of French verbs.
- It follows a clear and consistent pattern.
- Conjugation = remove -er + add standard endings.
- Mastering this group gives you the strongest foundation in French conjugation.
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.
