This deep dive covers Les conjugaisons — -ir, -re et modaux within Present tense: -ir, -re and modal verbs for GCSE French. Revise Present tense: -ir, -re and modal verbs in The 25 Core Verbs and the Present Tense for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 2 of 4 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📐 Les conjugaisons — -ir, -re et modaux
Verbes en -ir (type : finir)
Remove -ir to get the stem, then add the endings below. Note the distinctive -iss- in the nous, vous, and ils/elles forms.
| Pronom | Ending | finir (to finish) |
|---|---|---|
| je | -is | je finis |
| tu | -is | tu finis |
| il / elle / on | -it | il finit |
| nous | -issons | nous finissons |
| vous | -issez | vous finissez |
| ils / elles | -issent | ils finissent |
Key -ir verbs
- finir — to finish
- choisir — to choose
- réussir — to succeed / to pass (an exam)
⚠️ Irregular -ir verbs (être auxiliary in perfect tense — Unit 4): partir (to leave) and sortir (to go out) are conjugated differently — they do NOT take the -iss- extension. Flag now: these two use être as their auxiliary in the perfect tense, not avoir. (je suis parti / je suis sorti)
Verbes en -re (type : vendre)
Remove -re to get the stem, then add the endings. Note: the il/elle/on form has no ending at all (just the bare stem).
| Pronom | Ending | vendre (to sell) |
|---|---|---|
| je | -s | je vends |
| tu | -s | tu vends |
| il / elle / on | (nothing) | il vend |
| nous | -ons | nous vendons |
| vous | -ez | vous vendez |
| ils / elles | -ent | ils vendent |
Key -re verbs
- vendre — to sell
- attendre — to wait (for)
- perdre — to lose
- répondre — to answer / to reply
- entendre — to hear
Les verbes modaux + infinitif
Modal verbs express ability, desire, or obligation. They are always followed by an infinitive — they cannot stand alone as a complete verb phrase.
| Verbe | Meaning | je | il / elle | nous | ils / elles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pouvoir | can / to be able to | peux | peut | pouvons | peuvent |
| vouloir | to want (to) | veux | veut | voulons | veulent |
| devoir | must / to have to | dois | doit | devons | doivent |
| savoir | to know how to | sais | sait | savons | savent |
Modal verb rule — always + infinitif
- Je dois finir mes devoirs. — I have to finish my homework.
- Elle peut choisir ses matières. — She can choose her subjects.
- Nous voulons réussir nos examens. — We want to pass our exams.
- Tu sais parler espagnol ? — Do you know how to speak Spanish?
Note also: voudrais / voudrait (I/he/she would like to) is acceptable at Foundation tier and is a very useful, polite alternative to veux / veut.
Annotated model sentences
Je dois finir mes devoirs avant de sortir avec mes amis.
I have to finish my homework before going out with my friends.
- dois — je form of devoir (modal); always followed by an infinitive
- finir — -ir verb in the infinitive (not conjugated, because it follows a modal)
- avant de + infinitif — AO2 connective structure: "before doing something"; worth learning as a fixed phrase
- sortir — irregular -ir verb; note this verb takes être in the perfect tense
On peut choisir entre plusieurs options selon ses préférences personnelles.
One can choose between several options according to one's personal preferences.
- peut — il/elle/on form of pouvoir; followed by the infinitive choisir
- choisir — -ir verb (regular type, takes -iss- in plural forms)
- selon ses préférences personnelles — prepositional phrase giving a reason; earns AO2 marks for range and complexity
- plusieurs — "several"; an adjective that precedes the noun and never changes for gender
Practice questions for Present tense: -ir, -re and modal verbs
What does 'finir' mean in English?
Which ending is correct for 'nous' with a regular -ir verb like 'finir'?