Master IR Verb Conjugation in French: Present and Compound Tenses Explained

Mastering IR verb conjugation in French is a decisive milestone for any French learner. While first-group verbs (-ER) follow straightforward and uniform rules, verbs ending in -IR require a bit more precision. They are split into two main families: regular second-group verbs (identified by the distinctive -iss- infix) and irregular third-group verbs.

In this comprehensive guide created by the language experts at my-french.com, you will discover clear rules, reference conjugation charts, and practical strategies to conjugate -IR verbs with confidence in the present and compound tenses.

1. Regular 2nd Group -IR Verbs in the Present Tense

French verbs in the second group are completely regular. How do you distinguish a regular -IR verb from an irregular one? Look at its present participle or its "nous" (we) form in the present tense: if it features the suffix -issant / -issons, it belongs to the regular 2nd group.

  • Finir (to finish) ➔ Finissant / Nous finissons
  • Choisir (to choose) ➔ Choisissant / Nous choisissons
  • Réussir (to succeed) ➔ Réussissant / Nous réussissons

    • Examples:

    Present Tense Endings:

  • Je : stem + -is
  • Tu : stem + -is
  • Il / Elle / On : stem + -it
  • Nous : stem + -issons
  • Vous : stem + -issez
  • Ils / Elles : stem + -issent

    • To conjugate these verbs, drop the infinitive -ir ending to find your stem, then attach:

    Conjugation Model: Finir (To Finish)

    2. Irregular 3rd Group -IR Verbs

    Subject Pronoun Conjugation English Equivalent
    :--- :--- :---
    Je finis I finish / I am finishing
    Tu finis You finish (informal)
    Il / Elle / On finit He / She / One finishes
    Nous finissons We finish
    Vous finissez You finish (formal / plural)
    Ils / Elles finissent They finish

Not every verb ending in -ir follows the regular pattern. Many common verbs belong to the 3rd group because they lack the -iss- sound. These can be categorized into three manageable subgroups:

Subgroup A: Verbs like Partir, Sortir, Dormir

These verbs drop the final consonant of the root in the singular forms, but retain it in the plural. Their endings are: -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent.

  • Je pars
  • Tu pars
  • Il part
  • Nous partons
  • Vous partez
  • Ils partent

    • Example with Partir (to leave):

    Subgroup B: Verbs like Ouvrir and Offrir

Surprisingly, these verbs take the regular endings of -ER verbs in the present tense (-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent).

  • J'ouvre
  • Tu ouvres
  • Il ouvre
  • Nous ouvrons
  • Vous ouvrez
  • Ils ouvrent

    • Example with Ouvrir (to open):

    Subgroup C: Irregular Stem-Changing Verbs (Venir, Tenir)

  • Je viens, Tu viens, Il vient, Nous venons, Vous venez, Ils viennent.

    • These verbs undergo vowel shifts in the singular and third-person plural:

    3. Conjugating -IR Verbs in Compound Tenses (Passé Composé)

Compound tenses in French—primarily the passé composé—consist of an auxiliary verb (avoir or être) paired with a past participle (participe passé).

Regular 2nd Group Past Participles

For regular -IR verbs, building the past participle is simple: replace the infinitive -ir with -i.

  • Finir ➔ fini
  • Choisir ➔ choisi
  • Grandir ➔ grandi
  • J'ai fini le projet. (I finished the project.)
  • Nous avons choisi une solution simple. (We chose a simple solution.)

    • Examples in sentences:

    Irregular 3rd Group Past Participles

Irregular verbs require memorizing their specific past participle patterns:

1. Ending in -i: Partir ➔ parti (Elle est partie — note the agreement with être).

2. Ending in -ert: Ouvrir ➔ ouvert (J'ai ouvert la fenêtre), Offrir ➔ offert.

3. Ending in -u: Venir ➔ venu (Ils sont venus), Tenir ➔ tenu.

4. Quick Comparison Cheat Sheet

Top Tip from the My-French Team

Verb Group Present (Nous form) Past Participle Passé Composé Example
:--- :--- :--- :--- :---
Finir 2nd (Regular) finissons fini J'ai fini
Choisir 2nd (Regular) choisissons choisi Tu as choisi
Sortir 3rd (Irregular) sortons sorti Je suis sorti(e)
Offrir 3rd (Irregular) offrons offert J'ai offert
Venir 3rd (Irregular) venons venu Elle est venue
  • If you hear the "-issons" sound, conjugate it with standard 2nd group endings (-is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent) and use -i for its past participle.
  • If you hear a plain "-ons" without -iss-, treat it as an irregular 3rd group verb.

    • Whenever you encounter an unfamiliar -IR verb, test it with "Nous":

By practicing this systematic check, you will eliminate hesitation and master IR verb conjugation in French effortlessly.