What are common mistakes with Le présent : verbes en -ir?

Forgetting -iss- in plural forms; confusing regular -ir (finir type) with irregular -ir (partir type). 🇬🇧 English speakers: The -iss- insertion in plural forms has no English equivalent. Learners say *nous finons instead of nous finissons. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: The concept of stem extension (-iss-) is unfamiliar. Learners may drop it or apply it to irregular -ir verbs. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech has verb classes with different patterns, so the concept of a sub-pattern is familiar. The specific -iss- insertion needs memorization.

Le présent : verbes en -ir | French Grammar A1

Le présent : verbes en -ir

A1 — Verbes

Regular -ir verb conjugation: finir, choisir pattern

Can conjugate regular -ir verbs (finir type) in the present tense

Regular -ir verb conjugation: finir, choisir pattern

Examples

Je finis mon travail à six heures. — I finish my work at six o'clock.
Nous choisissons un restaurant et vous réfléchissez. — We choose a restaurant and you think about it.
Les enfants grandissent vite et réussissent à l'école. — The children grow up fast and succeed at school.

VerbesA1

Le présent : verbes en -ir

Regular -ir verb conjugation: finir, choisir pattern

Learning Goal

Can conjugate regular -ir verbs (finir type) in the present tense

Exam Skills:Production écriteProduction orale

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Je finis mon travail à six heures.

I finish my work at six o'clock.

Nous choisissons un restaurant et vous réfléchissez.

We choose a restaurant and you think about it.

Les enfants grandissent vite et réussissent à l'école.

The children grow up fast and succeed at school.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Les verbes réguliers en -ir (type finir) ajoutent -iss- au pluriel :

Personne	finir	choisir
je	finis	choisis
tu	finis	choisis
il/elle/on	finit	choisit
nous	finissons	choisissons
vous	finissez	choisissez
ils/elles	finissent	choisissent

Verbes courants : finir (finish), choisir (choose), réussir (succeed), grandir (grow up), remplir (fill), obéir (obey), réfléchir (think/reflect).

Attention : Certains verbes en -ir sont irréguliers (partir, sortir, dormir, venir) — ils ne prennent pas -iss-.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Forgetting -iss- in plural forms; confusing regular -ir (finir type) with irregular -ir (partir type). 🇬🇧 English speakers: The -iss- insertion in plural forms has no English equivalent. Learners say *nous finons instead of nous finissons.

Common Error Patterns

Forgot -iss- in plural forms of regular -ir verbs

nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent — -iss- is required in all plural forms.

Je finis mon travail à six heures.

I finish my work at six o'clock.

Finir: je finis — singular forms use -is/-is/-it (no -iss-).

Nous choisissons un restaurant et vous réfléchissez.

We choose a restaurant and you think about it.

Plural forms insert -iss-: choisissons, réfléchissez. This is the key marker of regular -ir verbs.

Les enfants grandissent vite et réussissent à l'école.

The children grow up fast and succeed at school.

Grandir and réussir: regular -ir verbs with -iss- in plural (ils grandissent, ils réussissent).

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Frequently asked questions

When is Le présent : verbes en -ir used?: Les verbes réguliers en -ir (type finir ) ajoutent -iss- au pluriel :
How is Le présent : verbes en -ir formed?: Verbes courants : finir (finish), choisir (choose), réussir (succeed), grandir (grow up), remplir (fill), obéir (obey), réfléchir (think/reflect). Attention : Certains verbes en -ir sont irréguliers (partir, sortir, dormir, venir) — ils ne prennent pas -iss-.
What are common mistakes with Le présent : verbes en -ir?: Forgetting -iss- in plural forms; confusing regular -ir (finir type) with irregular -ir (partir type). 🇬🇧 English speakers: The -iss- insertion in plural forms has no English equivalent. Learners say *nous finons instead of nous finissons. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: The concept of stem extension (-iss-) is unfamiliar. Learners may drop it or apply it to irregular -ir verbs. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech has verb classes with different patterns, so the concept of a sub-pattern is familiar. The specific -iss- insertion needs memorization.