Verbs (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
French verbs
Understanding French verbs
French verbs are action words that form the backbone of the language. Learning these essential verbs will help you express what you do, think, feel, and experience in French. Many French verbs follow similar patterns to English, making them easier to remember, whilst others require specific prepositions or constructions.
Learning Tip: Many French verbs are cognates (similar to English words), which makes them easier to memorise. Look for patterns like "accepter" (accept), "créer" (create), and "comparer" (compare).
Essential French verb vocabulary
Here's a comprehensive table of important French verbs you need to know:
| French Verb | English Translation | French Verb | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| accepter | to accept, admit | parler | to speak, talk |
| adorer | to love, adore | partir | to leave |
| aimer | to like, love | passer; se passer | to spend time; to happen |
| aller | to go, going | penser | to think |
| améliorer | to improve | porter | to wear, carry |
| appeler; s'appeler | to call; to be named | pouvoir | to be able to |
| apporter | to bring | préférer | to prefer |
| arriver; arriver à + infinitive | to arrive; to manage/succeed in + verb | prendre | to take/taking |
| attendre | to wait (for), expect | se préparer; se préparer à | to get ready |
| augmenter; s'augmenter | to increase; to grow, expand | prêter | to lend |
| avoir | to have | promettre (à...) (de + infinitive) | to promise (someone) (+ verb) |
| boire | to drink | prononcer | to pronounce |
| cacher | to hide | proposer; proposer de + infinitive | to propose, suggest (to) |
| changer; se changer | to change; to get changed | raconter | to tell, narrate |
| choisir | to choose | recevoir | to receive |
| commencer (à + infinitive) | to start (+ verb) | regarder | to watch, look at |
| comparer | to compare | regretter | to be sorry, regret |
| compter | to count/counting | remplir | to fill (up), (in) |
| confiance | trust, confidence | rentrer | to come back, (in), go back (in) |
| continuer (à/de + infinitive) | to continue (+ verb) | répéter | to repeat |
| créer | to create | répondre | to answer |
| croire | to believe | revenir | to return |
| décider (de + infinitive) | to decide (+ verb) | rêver (à/de + noun) | to dream (about + noun) |
| décrire | to describe | savoir | to know (how to), can |
| demander; demander à... (de + infinitive); se demander | to ask for; ask someone (+ verb); to wonder | se souvenir (de + noun) | to remember (+ noun) |
| descendre; descendre de + noun | to go down; to get off + noun | servir; se servir de | to serve; to use, make use of |
| désirer | to want, desire | signifier | to mean |
| détester | to hate, detest | sortir | to go out, exit |
| devenir | to become | sourire | to smile |
| devoir | to have to, must | supporter | to put up with |
| diminuer | to lower, decrease | terminer (de + infinitive) | to finish (+ verb) |
| dire; dire (à... de + infinitive) | to say, tell (someone) | trouver; se trouver | to find; to be situated |
| discuter (de + noun) | to discuss | utiliser | to use |
| donner | to give | venir | to come |
| durer | to last | vivre | to live |
| écouter | to listen to | voir | to see |
| écrire | to write | vouloir | to want (to) |
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Understanding how French verbs work with other words is essential for proper communication. Here are the key patterns you need to master.
Critical Verb Constructions
Many French verbs require specific prepositions when followed by other verbs or nouns:
- à + infinitive: arriver à (to manage to), commencer à (to start to)
- de + infinitive: décider de (to decide to), proposer de (to suggest)
- Reflexive verbs: Use "se" before the verb (se préparer, se souvenir)
Common mistake: Don't forget the preposition! "Je commence étudier" is incorrect - it should be "Je commence à étudier."
Pronunciation Hints
- Silent endings: Most verb infinitives ending in -er have silent final syllables
- Nasal sounds: "en" in verbs like "prendre" creates a nasal sound
- Liaison: Connect verb endings to following vowels in speech
Example sentences
Learning verbs in context helps you understand their natural usage patterns and improves your fluency.
Worked Example: Present Tense Usage
- J'aime beaucoup la musique française. (I really like French music.)
- Elle parle couramment trois langues. (She speaks three languages fluently.)
- Nous préférons partir tôt le matin. (We prefer to leave early in the morning.)
- Ils peuvent venir ce soir. (They can come this evening.)
Worked Example: Past Tense (Passé Composé)
- J'ai regardé un film hier soir. (I watched a film last night.)
- Elle a choisi une robe bleue. (She chose a blue dress.)
- Nous avons décidé de rester à la maison. (We decided to stay at home.)
- Ils ont fini leurs devoirs. (They finished their homework.)
Translation practice
Test your understanding of these essential French verbs with these practice exercises.
Translation Exercise
French to English:
- Il faut toujours dire la vérité.
- Nous devons partir avant huit heures.
English to French: 3. I want to learn French well. 4. She prefers to drink tea in the morning.
Answers:
- You must always tell the truth.
- We must leave before eight o'clock.
- Je veux bien apprendre le français.
- Elle préfère boire du thé le matin.
Key Points to Remember:
- French verbs often require specific prepositions (à, de) when connecting to other verbs
- Reflexive verbs use "se" and refer back to the subject performing the action
- Many common French verbs are similar to English words, making them easier to memorise
- Practice verb constructions together with their prepositions rather than learning verbs in isolation
- The infinitive form (ending in -er, -ir, -re) is the basic dictionary form you'll find in vocabulary lists