Grammar / The present indicative

A1 Breakthrough

Use: the present tense (or present indicative) is used to describe something that is happening as you are speaking, right now, today.

Verbs can be organised into 4 collections.

Collection 1: infinitives ending in -er

1 stem inferred from the infinitive.

All verbs (+/- 8000) with infinitives ending in "-er" (exception: aller) and 12 verbs ending in "-ir", like ouvrir.

Pass-er

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Je	pass	e
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Tu	pass	es
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Il/Elle/On	pass	e
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Nous	pass	ons
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Vous	pass	ez
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Ils/Elles	pass	ent

Collection 2

2 stems inferred from the infinitive.

In the singular ("je", "tu", "il/elle/on") the short stem is obtained by deducting 3 letters from the infinitive.
In the plural ("nous", "vous", "ils/elles") the long stem is obtained by deducting 2 letters from the infinitive.

15 verbs ending in "–ir" like sortir, partir, 6 verbs ending in "-vre" like suivre, and 14 verbs ending in "-ttre", like mettre.

Sor-tir

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Je	sor	s
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Tu	sor	s
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Il/Elle/On	sor	t
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Nous	sort	ons
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Vous	sort	ez
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Ils/Elles	sort	ent

Collection 3

2 stems.
The 1^st stem inferred from the infinitive is used in the singular.
The 2^nd stem adds a sound to stem 1. It is used in the plural.

Plural formed with "-ss-": 250 verbs ending in "-ir" like finir and 13 verbs ending in "-aître", like connaître

Plural formed with "-s-": verbs ending in "-(u)ire", likelire

Plural formed with "-v-": verbs ending in "-crire", like écrire

Plural formed with "-gn-": verbs ending in "-indre".

Fin-ir

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Je	fini	s
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Tu	fini	s
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Il/Elle/On	fini	t
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Nous	fini	ss	ons
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Vous	fini	ss	ez
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Ils/Elles	fini	ss	ent

Collection 4

3 stems.
In the singular ("je", "tu", and "il/elle/on") the short stem is a new form.

For "nous" and "vous" the 2^nd stem is inferred from the infinitive.

For "ils" and "elles", the 3^rd stem often puts together the stem of the singular and the consonant added for "nous" and "vous".

Venir, tenir and their derivatives

Verbs ending in "-cevoir", like recevoir

Verbs formed with "-eu-" in the singular like pouvoir

Prendre and its derivatives

Boire, s’asseoir

Compren-dre

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Je	comprend	s
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Tu	comprend	s
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Il/Elle/On	comprend
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Nous	compren	ons
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Vous	compren	ez
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Ils/Elles	compren	nn	ent