How French Ir Verb Conjugation Works: An Overview
French verbs in -ir denote an action in progress and form one of the three major conjugation groups. While many
Understanding the group and stem irregularities helps you predict most forms, recognize exceptions, and communicate accurately in everyday and more advanced contexts. Below you will find structural notes, high-information tables, and practice-focused explanations designed for long-term usefulness.
Present Tense: Regular and Irregular Patterns
In the present tense, regular -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent. However, several verbs are stem-changing or entirely irregular in the stem while retaining the standard endings.
- Finir (to finish): Regular
- Choisir (to choose): Regular endings, stem choisi- in the je and tu forms (choisis, choisis, choisit, choisissons, choisissez, choisissent).
- Réfléchir (to reflect): Stem reflech-; note the é in je and tu (réfléchis, réfléchis, réfléchit, réfléchissons, réfléchissez, réfléchissent).
- Fondre (to melt): Irregular stem fond-; forms include fondis, fondis, fond, fondons, fondez, fondent.
- Endormir (to put to sleep): Irregular in many forms; je dors, tu dors, il dort, nous dormons, vous dormez, ils dorment, with the radical dorm- in the last four persons.
Conjugation Table: Common Irregular -ir Verbs in the Present Tense
| Infinitive | Je | Tu | Il/elle/on | Nous | Vous | Ils/elles |
|---|
| choisir | choisis | choisis | choisit | choissons | choisissez | choissent |
| finir | finis | finis | finit | finissons | finissez | finissent |
| fondre | fondis | fondis | fond | fondons | fondez | fondent |
| maigrir | maigris | maigris | maigrit | maigrissons | maigrissez | maigrissent |
| réfléchir | réfléchis | réfléchis | réfléchit | réfléchissons | réfléchissez | réfléchissent |
| sortir | sors | sors | sort | sortons | sortez | sortent |
Passé Composé: Aorist Completion with Être
The passé composé of ir verbs uses the auxiliary être and the past participle, which for -i. Agreement with the subject occurs when the direct object precedes the verb, which is common in written and careful spoken French.
- Je suis sorti(e) — I went out / I have gone out
- Tu es parti(e) — You left / You have left
- Il est tombé — He fell / He has fallen
- Nous sommes retournés — We returned / We have returned
- Vous êtes sorti(e)s — You went out / You have gone out
- Ils sont tombés — They fell / They have fallen
When the direct object follows the verb, no agreement occurs: Elle a quitté la réunion. When it precedes the verb, the participle agrees: La réunion qu’elle a quittée.
Past Participles and Agreement Notes
- Regular -i (sorti, choisi, fini).
- Irregular past participles: tombé (from tomber, not tomber), parti (from partir), etc., when paired with être.
- Memory aid: most motion or change-of-state
Imperfect Tense: Habits, States, and Ongoing Past Action
The imperfect describes ongoing or repeated past action, habits, states, and background context. For regular -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient added to the stem. Irregular stems change accordingly.
- Finissais — I was finishing / I used to finish
- Choisissais — I was choosing / I used to choose
- Fondais — I was melting / I used to melt
- Sortais — I went out / I used to go out
Unlike the passé composé, the imperfect never requires agreement with the subject, and it sets the scene or contrasts with completed actions in narratives.
Other Key Tenses and Moods Relevant to -ir Verbs
Beyond the core tenses, several moods and compound forms are essential for fluency. The conditional is formed with the infinitive + conditional endings, and the subjunctive often appears after specific expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
- Conditional: je choisirais, tu choisirais, il choisirait
- Subjunctive present: que je choisisse, que tu choisisses, qu’il choisisse
- Imperative: Choisis-le!, Finis-le!, Sortons!
- Infinitive and gerund: finir, en choisissant
Usage Notes and Common Contexts for Ir -ir Verbs
- Movement or change of location: sortir, partir, venir.
- Mental processes or decisions: choisir, finir, réussir.
- Physiological or sensory processes: maigrir, maigrir, rougir.
Register varies: some
Summary of Key Patterns and Quick Reference
French
| Infinitive | Present (je) | Passé Composé (j’) | Imperfect (j’) | Past Participle |
|---|
| choisir | choisis | ai choisi | choisissais | choisi |
| finir | finis | ai fini | finissais | fini |
| fondre | fondis | suis fondu | fondais | fondu |
| maigrir | maigris | ai maigri | maigrissais | maigri |
| sortir | sors | suis sorti | sortais | sorti |
Use this reference to practice across contexts, paying special attention to stem changes and auxiliary choice. With consistent exposure, these forms become automatic and support more complex sentence building.
Practice and Internalization Tips
To consolidate these patterns, integrate verbs into full sentences, alternate between tenses, and notice agreement in both speaking and writing. Prioritize high-frequency verbs first, then expand to less common
Conclusion: Build Confidence with Systematic Practice
French