The document discusses verbs ending in -er in French. It explains that the infinitive form of most French verbs ends in -er, and the ending changes according to the subject. It provides examples of how the verb "chanter" (to sing) conjugates for different subjects like "je chante" (I sing), "tu chantes" (you sing), and "il chante" (he sings). It notes that in English "je chante" means both "I sing" and "I am singing", while in French there is only one present tense form.

1. Chez moi
3 Grammaire
Les verbes en –er au singulier
Expo 1
Feuille 3.2
When you look up a verb in the dictionary you find the infinitive form. Most
French infinitives end in –er. The ending on the infinitive changes according to
the subject of the verb, i.e. who is doing the action:
chanter = to sing je chante I sing/I am singing
tu chantes You sing /You are singing
il/elle chante He/she sings/He/she is
on chante singing
We sing/are singing
Notice how in English je chante means both ‘I sing’ and ‘I am singing’.
There is only one form of the present tense in French.
A
Use the dictionary or www.wordreference.com to find the French for these verbs.
You may find you are given several words to choose from. Remember, you are
looking for a verb (shown with vt or vi after the French word which ends in -er).
English French English French English French
to scratch to whisper to deny
to correct to break to speak
to swallow to clean to deserve
to arrive
B
Fill in the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Tout est tranquille. Papa (préparer) le dîner, et Maman
(travailler) dans son bureau. Ma sœur (regarder) la
télévision, et mon frère (jouer) au ping-pong avec ma
grand-mère. Et moi, je (ranger) ma chambre.
C
Write these sentences in French, using the verb given in brackets.
1 I dance. (danser)
2 You sing. (chanter)
3 He is preparing. (préparer)
4 She decides. (décider)
5 We repair. (réparer)
6 Alizée eats. (manger)
7 I am watching. (regarder)
8 She is listening. (écouter)
9 Monique is counting. (compter)
10 You are refusing. (refuser)
40 quarante Expo 1 © Harcourt Education Limited 2003