10 French Verb Tables for the 10 Most Common Verbs
French verbs aren’t too hard to conjugate, but it makes it a lot easier to learn if you can see the verb in all of its forms laid out. Of course, the easiest way to learn the language is to fully immerse yourself in it so speaking becomes more natural and you don’t have to think about which form of the word applies to what you are saying. Soon it will become second nature. However, as a beginner, seeing a verb conjugation chart will be a great tool to aid in memorization. If you’re a native English speaker, this French beginners course will help explain French grammar in easy-to-understand terms.
A verb table is just a chart of a verb and all of its conjugations in past, present and future tense. The table will also show you how to use the verb when applying it to the first, second and third person and how to use it the subjective, conditional and past simple. Here we will cover the top ten most used French verbs in all their forms. In the article, How to Learn French Fast, you can cover a lot of ground in no time at all. But first, check out these verb tables.
In English the verb table for to do would be look like this:
Present | Future | Imperfect | |
I | do | will do | did |
You | do | will do | did |
He/she/it | does | will do | did |
You (plural) | do | will do | did |
they | do | will do | did |
Top 10 Most Common French Verbs and Their Verb Tables:
1. Aller – to go
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | ||
j’ | vais | irai | allais | allant | |
tu | vas | iras | allais | ||
il | va | ira | allait | ||
nous | allons | irons | allions | ||
vous | allez | irez | allies | ||
ils | vont | iront | allaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | ||
j’ | aille | irais | allai | allasse | |
tu | ailles | irais | allas | allasses | |
il | aille | irait | alla | allât | |
nous | allions | irions | allâ mes | allassions | |
vous | alliez | iriez | allâ tes | allassiez | |
ils | aillent | iraient | allérent | allassent |
2. Avoir – to have
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
j’ | ai | aurai | avais | ayant |
tu | as | auras | avais | |
il | a | aura | avait | |
nous | avons | aurons | avions | |
vous | avez | aurez | aviez | |
ils | ont | auront | avaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
j’ | aie | aurais | eus | eusse |
tu | aies | aurais | eus | eusses |
il | ait | aurait | eut | eût |
nous | ayons | aurions | eûmes | eussions |
vous | ayez | auriez | eûtes | eussiez |
ils | aient | auraient | eurent | Eussent |
3. Dire – to say, tell
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je | dis | dirai | disais | disant |
tu | dis | diras | disais | |
il | dit | dira | disait | |
nous | disons | dirons | disions | |
vous | dites | direz | disiez | |
ils | disent | diront | disaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
je | dise | dirais | dis | disse |
tu | dises | dirais | dis | disses |
il | dise | dirait | dit | dit |
nous | disions | dirions | dimes | dissions |
vous | disiez | diriez | dites | dissiez |
ils | disent | diraient | dirent | dissent |
4. Être – to be (irregular verb)
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je/j’ | suis | serai | étais | étant |
tu | es | seras | étais | |
il | est | sera | était | |
nous | sommes | serons | étions | |
vous | êtes | serez | étiez | |
ils | sont | seront | étaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
je | sois | serais | fus | fusse |
tu | sois | serais | fus | fusses |
il | soit | serait | fut | fût |
nous | soyons | serions | fûmes | fussions |
vous | soyez | seriez | fûtes | fussiez |
ils | soient | seraient | furent | fussent |
5. Faire –to do, make (irregular)
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je | fais | ferai | faisais | faisant |
tu | fais | feras | faisais | |
il | fait | fera | faisait | |
nous | faisons | ferons | faisions | |
vous | faites | ferez | faisiez | |
ils | font | feront | faisaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
je | fasse | ferais | fis | fisse |
tu | fasses | ferais | fis | fisses |
il | fasse | ferait | fit | fit |
Nous | fassions | ferions | fimes | fissions |
Vous | fassiez | feriez | Fites | fissiez |
Ils | fassent | feraient | firent | fissent |
6. Falloir – to be necessary (impersonal and irregular verb)
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je/ j’ | ||||
Tu | ||||
Il | faut | faundra | fallait | |
Nous | ||||
Vous | ||||
Ils |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
j’ | ||||
tu | ||||
il | faille | faudrait | fallut | fallût |
Nous | ||||
Vous | ||||
Ils |
7. Pouvoir – to be able
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je | peux, puis | pourrai | pouvais | pusse |
tu | peux | pourras | pouvais | pusses |
il | peut | pourra | pouvait | pût |
nous | pouvons | pourrons | pouvions | pussions |
vous | pouvez | pourrez | pouviez | pussiez |
ils | peuvent | pourront | pouvaient | pussent |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
je | puisse | pourrais | pus | pusse |
tu | puisses | pourrais | pus | pusses |
il | puisse | pourrait | put | pût |
nous | puissions | pourrions | pûmes | pussions |
vous | puissiez | pourriez | pûtes | pussiez |
ils | puissent | pourraient | purent | pussent |
8. Savoir – to know
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je | sais | saurai | savais | sachant |
tu | sais | sauras | savais | |
il | sait | saura | savait | |
nous | savons | saurons | savions | |
vous | savez | saurez | saviez | |
ils | savent | sauront | savaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
je | sache | saurais | sus | susse |
tu | saches | saurais | sus | susses |
il | sache | saurait | sut | sût |
nous | sachions | saurions | sûmes | sussions |
vous | sachiez | sauriez | sûtes | sussiez |
ils | sachent | sauraient | surent | sussent |
9. Voir – to see
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je | vois | verrai | voyais | voyant |
tu | vois | verras | voyais | |
il | voit | verra | voyait | |
nous | voyons | verrons | voyions | |
vous | voyez | verrez | voyiez | |
ils | voient | verront | voyaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
je | voie | verrais | vis | visse |
tu | voies | verrais | vis | visses |
il | voie | verrait | vit | vit |
nous | voyions | verrions | vimes | vissions |
vous | voyiez | verriez | vites | vissiez |
ils | voient | verraient | virent | vissent |
10. Vouloir – to want (irregular verb)
Present | Future | Imperfect | Present Participle | |
je | veux | voudrai | voulais | voulant |
tu | veux | voudras | voulais | |
il | veut | voudra | voulait | |
nous | voulons | voudrons | voulions | |
vous | voulez | voudrez | vouliez | |
ils | veulent | voudront | voulaient |
Subjunctive | Conditional | Passé simple | Imperfect subjunctive | |
je | veuille | voudrais | voulus | voulusse |
tu | veuilles | voudrais | voulus | voulusses |
il | veuille | voudrait | voulut | voulût |
nous | voulions | voudrions | voulûmes | voulussions |
vous | vouliez | voudriez | voulûtes | voulussiez |
ils | veuillent | voudraient | voulurent | voulussent |
Although French verb conjugations do vary, you should be able to see patterns developing on the endings of the different verbs. To learn more about French verbs, conjugations, and other grammar, try this Beginner French course Au Café. However, if you feel like you’re ready for the next step in your French learning career, you can try your hand at conversational French in this online course!
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