#65-100 Most Used French Verbs and How To Conjugate Them

There are lists published on language websites such as Lingo Lex of the 100 most common foreign language verbs, and in September 2009 Bright Hub is reviewing the final 36. In May 2009 the first installment was published as #1-31 Most Used French Verbs and in August 2009 the second article as #32-64 Most Used French Verbs.

take: prendre (irregular verb)

talk: parler (regular -ER verb)

teach: enseigner (regular - ER verb)

tell: dire (irregular verb)

think: penser (regular - ER verb)

translate: traduire (irregular verb)

travel: voyager (regular -ER verb)

try: essayer (optional stem-changing -AYER verb)

turn off: éteindre (irregular verb)

turn on: allumer (regular -ER verb)

understand: comprendre (irregular verb)

use: utiliser (regular -ER verb)

wait: attendre (regular - RE verb)

wake up: se réveiller(regular -ER verb)

want: vouloir (irregular verb) OR désirer (regular -ER verb)

watch: regarder (regular -ER verb)

work: travailler (regular -ER verb)

worry: s'inquiéter (regular -ER verb)

write: écrire (irregular verb)

Most French verbs, especially the 100 commonly used words, are conjugated according to the last two letters. An example of a standard French verb conjugation can be found in the word regarder, which means to watch. Some of the most used forms are shown in the examples below;

PRESENT TENSE

je: regarde

tu: regardes

il: regarde

nous: regardons

vous: regardez

ils: regardent

FUTURE TENSE

je: regarderai

tu: regarderas

il: regardera

nous: regarderons

vous: regarderez

ils: regarderont

Attendre, which means to wait or to wait for, is another verb conjugated by the last two letters of the word. Some examples of how to conjugate "re" verbs are noted below.

PRESENT TENSE

je: attends

tu: attends

il: attend

nous: attendons

vous: attendez

ils: attendant

FUTURE TENSE

je: attendrai

tu: attendras

il: attendra

nous: attendrons

vous: attendrez

ils: attendront

Some French verbs do not follow standard rules of conjugation because they are known as "irregular" verbs. Prendre, to take, is one of them. Examples of some of this commonly used irregular French verb's conjugations are noted below.

PRESENT TENSE

je: prends

tu: prends

il: prend

nous: prenons

vous: prenez

ils: prennent

FUTURE TENSE

je: prendrai

tu: prendras

il: prendra

nous: prendrons

vous: prendrez

ils: prendront

Spelling change -GER verbs, such as voyager (to travel), are conjugated slightly differently due to the fact that the hard vowel "a" (this also applies to verbs with the hard vowel "o") precedes the "g", followed by the soft vowel "e." To keep to the best French pronunciation, these verbs have some spelling changes as compared to regular -ER verbs.

These verbs would be conjugated in most cases in both present and future tense just like regular -ER verbs except as follows:

PRESENT TENSE CHANGE

nous: voyageons

Stem changes in conjugations are not required for -AYER verbs such as essayer (to try). It would basically change the "y" to an "i" if used. Essayer and other -AYER verbs are seldom conjugated differently than -ER verbs.