Some of the most common irregular ­–RE verbs have their own internally consistent conjugation rules. These include prendre (to take), battre (to fight), mettre (to put), rompre (to break), and all of their derivatives. Today, we’re going to explain the simple present tense conjugations of these irregular –RE French verbs. Irregular –RE verbs not covered here do not follow predictable patterns in their “irregularness.” 

Prendre – to take

Prendre and words derived from it such as comprendre (to understand) lose the final d in all plural forms and add a second n in the ils (third personal plural) form. Singular forms follow regular –RE conjugation rules. All forms use regular ­–RE verbs endings.

 

Pronoun	Ending	Prendre To prendre	Comprendre To understand
je	-s	prends	comprends
tu	-s	prends	comprends
il, elle, on	—	prend	comprend
nous	-ons	prenons	comprenons
vous	-ez	prenez	comprenez
ils, elles	-ent	prennent	comprennent

 

 

Battre – to fight & Mettre – to put

These verbs and their derivates drop the final t from the stem in singular forms. Note that while battre and mettre are conjugated the same way in the present tense, they have different conjugations in the passé simple, imperfect subjunctive, and past participle.

 

Pronoun	Ending	Battre To fight	Débattre To discuss	Mettre To put	Promettre To promise
je	-s	bats	débats	mets	promets
tu	-s	bats	débats	mets	promets
il, elle, on	—	bat	débat	met	promet
nous	-ons	battons	débattons	mettons	promettons
vous	-ez	battez	débattez	mettez	promettez
ils, elles	-ent	battent	débattent	mettent	promettent

 

 

Rompre – to break

Rompre and all derivative verbs follow regular –RE conjugation rules except in the third person singular (it, elle, on), where a –t takes the place of the usual lack of an ending.

 

Pronoun	Ending	Rompre To break	Corrompre To corrupt
je	-s	romps	corromps
tu	-s	romps	corromps
il, elle, on	-t	rompt	corrompt
nous	-ons	rompons	corrompons
vous	-ez	rompez	corrompez
ils, elles	-ent	rompent	corrompent

 

 

Verbs Ending in –aindre, –eindre, and –oindre

When the infinitive of a verb contains –aindre, –eindre, or –oindre, drop the final d from the stem. For plural forms only, place a g before the n. Use the same –t ending for the il form as you would for rompre.

 

Pronoun	Ending	Craindre To fear	Peindre To paint	Joindre To join
je	-s	crains	peins	joins
tu	-s	crains	peins	joins
il, elle, on	-t	craint	peint	joint
nous	-ons	craignons	peignons	joignons
vous	-ez	craignez	peignez	joignez
ils, elles	-ent	craignent	peignent	joignent