4.2.1.2 Verbs ending in -ir

This group of verbs (ending in -ir) is quite small. However, there are different conjugations within this group, as you will see. Here again is true, what is true for many of the conjugations: the differences are in writing, not in pronunciation.

Example finir
stem
fin je finis I finish
tu finis you finish
il finit he finishes
elle finit she finishes
finiss nous finissons we finish
vous finissez you finish
ils finissent they finish
elles finissent they finish

In this group we have two different stems, which always appears with perfectly regular verbs ending in -ir. The stem is, what is left, when the endings are taken away(-er, -ir, -oir, -re).

There are three groups of endings for verbs ending in -ir. The first has a irregular stem, the second group has a specialty: when the stem ends on an -t or an -d, it is omitted. The third group has endings like the verbs ending in -er. Only the first group has a change in pronunciation.

Examples      
  finir (to finish) partir* (to leave) courir (to run) couvrir (to cover)
je finis pars cours couvre
tu finis pars cours couvres
il finit part court couvre
elle finit part court couvre
nous finissons partons courons couvrons
vous finissez partez courez couvrez
ils finissent partent courent couvrent
elles finissent partent courent couvrent

Summary of endings for the different types.

Example (Typ a) (Typ b) (Typ c)
je is s e
tu is s es
il it t e
elle it t e
nous issons ons ons
vous issez ez ez
ils issent ent ent
elles issent ent ent





contact privacy statement imprint