Regular RE Verbs in French

Learning French verbs is a crucial step in mastering the French language. Among all verbs in French, regular -re verbs form a group with predictable patterns, making them easier for beginners to conjugate and use in daily conversation. This guide will help you understand, identify, and practice regular -re verbs, so you can learn French efficiently.

Understanding Regular RE Verbs in French

What makes RE verbs regular

Regular -re verbs are verbs that end in -re in their infinitive form and follow a consistent conjugation pattern in the present tense. Unlike irregular -re verbs, the stem of the verb does not change when conjugating, making it easier to form correct sentences.

To identify a regular -re verb:

Infinitive

The infinitive ends in -re (e.g., attendre, vendre, répondre).

Consistent stem

The stem remains the same for all forms.

Standard endings

It follows the standard present tense endings for regular -re verbs.

Present tense endings for regular RE verbs

To form the present tense, remove the -re ending to find the stem, then add the following endings:

Subject	Ending
je	-s
tu	-s
il/elle/on	-
nous	-ons
vous	-ez
ils/elles	-ent

For example, the verb vendre (to sell) is conjugated as:

je vends
tu vends
il/elle/on vend
nous vendons
vous vendez
ils vendent

Common Regular RE Verbs in French

List of frequently used RE verbs

Here’s a table of common regular -re verbs, including English translations and pronunciation:

French Verb	English	Pronunciation
attendre	to wait	ah-tahn-dr
vendre	to sell	vahn-dr
répondre	to answer	ray-pon-dr
descendre	to go down / descend	day-sahn-dr
perdre	to lose	pehr-dr

These verbs are part of the third group of verbs in French and are frequently used in everyday conversation.

Sample sentences using regular RE verbs

J'attends le bus

J'attends le bus tous les jours. (I wait for the bus every day.)

Tu vends des livres

Tu vends des livres au marché. (You sell books at the market.)

Il répond aux questions

Il répond aux questions du professeur. (He answers the teacher’s questions.)

Nous descendons les escaliers

Nous descendons les escaliers doucement. (We go down the stairs slowly.)

Ils perdent souvent leurs clés

Ils perdent souvent leurs clés. (They often lose their keys.)

How to Conjugate Regular RE Verbs in French

Present, past, and future tense patterns

Present tense

Present tense: Follow the endings -s, -s, -, -ons, -ez, -ent.

Past tense

Past tense (passé composé): Use avoir + past participle formed by replacing -re with -u.

Example: j’ai vendu (I sold).

(be careful : a few verbs use être + past participle : e.g : je suis descendu.e)

Future tense

Future tense (futur simple): Add the endings -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont to the infinitive.

Example: nous vendrons (we will sell).

Tips on pronunciation and spelling

Silent consonants

The silent consonants in endings -s, -t, -ent are pronounced only in liaison.

Spelling changes

Watch for slight spelling changes in some verbs for pronunciation purposes, but regular -re verbs are mostly straightforward.

Get the stem

Always get the stem before adding the appropriate ending.

Practice Tips for Regular RE Verbs

Daily exercises and examples

Conjugation drills

Pick 3-5 regular -re verbs and practice conjugating them in present tense for all subjects.

Sentence creation

Use each verb in a simple sentence to reinforce meaning.

Flashcards

Include French verb, English translation, and pronunciation for review.

Using regular RE verbs in real-life conversation

Practice speaking French

Practice speaking French daily at your language school or with classmates.

Label objects and actions

Label objects and actions around you using verbs like attendre, vendre, descendre.

Listen to French

Listen to French podcasts or videos to hear how regular -re verbs are used in context.

Combine exercises

Combine reading, writing, and speaking exercises to reinforce memory naturally.

By applying these strategies, learners will master regular -re verbs effectively, gaining confidence to use French verbs correctly in conversation and writing.

Regular practice and real-life interaction can help turn these patterns into natural habits. An immersion french courses can give you the opportunity to practice these verbs every day while using French in authentic situations.

Regular RE Verbs in French: Full Guide