Regular -ir Verbs in French: Conjugation Rules & Examples

If you want a reliable system for conjugating verbs, start with the regular -ir verbs in French. These are also called the second group French verbs, and they follow a clear, predictable pattern that unlocks a lot of usable language for daily conversation. In this guide, you will learn how to identify second-group -ir verbs quickly, master their present tense endings, and see how they work across essential tenses like the passé composé, imparfait, futur, conditionnel, and the subjonctif. You will also get a practical list of common verbs with meanings and plenty of examples to help you speak French with confidence.

Whether you are just starting to learn French or refreshing your French grammar, knowing how these verbs work gives you instant progress. The patterns are consistent, the logic is simple once you spot it, and you can apply it to dozens of verbs at once. If you prefer a structured path, PrepFrench Classes offers step-by-step French lessons where a real teacher helps you practice and apply each tense in conversation.

As you read, feel free to check our homepage, explore our French courses, or book a free demo class to get a personalized learning plan from PrepFrench.

What are Regular -ir Verbs?

Regular -ir verbs are the set of verbs that follow the second group French verbs pattern. They are regular because their stems and endings behave consistently across tenses. You can usually spot them by two clues: the present participle ends in -issant, and in the present tense, the plural forms include -iss- before the endings. Once you learn one, you can conjugate dozens.

Identifying Regular -ir Verbs

A verb belongs to this second group if:

• Its present participle ends with -issant, for example: finir → finissant, choisir → choisissant.
• In the present tense, the plural persons have -iss-: nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent.
• Its past participle ends with -i: fini, choisi, grandi, réussi.

Contrast this with irregular -ir verbs like partir, sortir, dormir, mentir, and servir. These do not have -iss- in the plural present forms and are not part of the second group. For example, nous partons and nous dormons do not use -iss-.

Two of the most useful regular -ir verbs are finir (to finish) and choisir (to choose). Their predictable patterns make them excellent “model verbs” to learn first.

Forming the Present Participle (-issant)

The present participle for these verbs is built from the stem plus -issant: finir → finissant, grandir → grandissant. You will see it in constructions such as en + present participle, which expresses “while doing” or “by doing” something: Il a progressé en travaillant régulièrement. For second-group verbs, this -issant ending is a quick test that you are dealing with a regular -ir pattern.

If you want structured practice identifying verbs and building your conjugation habits, consider a focused block inside our online French classes at PrepFrench. You will learn to recognize patterns instantly and avoid common misclassifications.

Present Tense Conjugation Rules

The present tense -ir verbs French learners start with all share one engine: a stable stem plus a distinctive set of endings. The singular persons look simple, and the plural persons add -iss- before the endings. Learn this once, then apply it to any second-group verb.

Conjugation Endings Explained

Remove -ir from the infinitive to get the stem, then add the endings below. Notice the -iss- in the plural.

Example of finir: the model you can copy

Finir is the perfect model for French -ir verbs conjugation in the present. Copy this pattern for choisir, grandir, réussir, rougir, and more.

Examples in context:

• Je finis mes devoirs à 20 h. (I finish my homework at 8 p.m.)
• Nous choisissons un film ce soir. (We are choosing a movie tonight.)
• Ils réussissent souvent parce qu’ils révisent. (They often succeed because they revise.)

Tip for beginners: say the plural forms out loud to feel the -iss- rhythm, for example, finissons, finissez, finissent. It will help your French pronunciation and reduce mistakes in writing.

Want guided practice and instant feedback from a French teacher? Join a small group inside our French language classes to lock in these endings with real conversation drills.

Future, Past, and Subjunctive Tenses

Once the present is solid, expand the same logic to other tenses. The good news: regular -ir verbs keep their predictability. Below is a concise map with rules, endings, and examples you can copy. We will highlight passé composé with avoir, imparfait formation, futur and conditionnel, and the core subjunctive pattern.

Passé Composé: Formation and Examples

Regular -ir verbs form the passé composé with avoir, then the past participle in -i. Example with finir: j’ai fini, tu as fini, il a fini, nous avons fini, vous avez fini, ils ont fini.

• Affirmative: Hier, j’ai fini le rapport. (Yesterday, I finished the report.)
• Negative: Je n’ai pas fini la série. (I did not finish the series.)
• Question: Avez-vous réussi l’examen ? (Did you pass the exam?)

Do not use être with second-group verbs in the passé composé, unless the verb is reflexive, for example: Elle s’est choisie une nouvelle coiffure. In normal usage, use avoir for regular -ir verbs. If you are unsure which auxiliary to choose, a PrepFrench teacher will help you solve it in context during our French courses.

Understanding the Imparfait

The imparfait describes ongoing states, habits, and background details in the past. To form it, take the present-tense nous form, remove -ons, and add these endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

• Stem for finir: nous finissons → finiss- + endings.
• Conjugation: je finissais, tu finissais, il finissait, nous finissions, vous finissiez, ils finissaient.
• Usage: Quand j’étais enfant, je finissais toujours mes légumes. (When I was a child, I always finished my vegetables.)

The imparfait of -ir verbs endings are easy to remember once you hear the -iss- sound across the plural. This sound cue helps you avoid mixing imparfait with passé composé, which is one of the most common pitfalls for beginners.

Futur and Conditionnel: Predictable with the Infinitive

For the futur simple, keep the full infinitive and add endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.

• Finir: je finirai, tu finiras, il finira, nous finirons, vous finirez, ils finiront.
• Usage: Demain, nous finirons tôt. (Tomorrow, we will finish early.)

For the conditionnel présent, use the same base but add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

• Finir: je finirais, tu finirais, il finirait, nous finirions, vous finiriez, ils finiraient.
• Usage: Si j’avais plus de temps, je finirais ce livre. (If I had more time, I would finish this book.)

Subjunctive of Regular -ir Verbs

The present subjunctive for second-group verbs uses the stem finiss- for most persons. Conjugation of finir: que je finisse, que tu finisses, qu’il finisse, que nous finissions, que vous finissiez, qu’ils finissent. Triggers include expressions of necessity, doubt, emotion, or desire.

• Il faut que tu finisses tes devoirs. (You must finish your homework.)
• Je suis content qu’elle réussisse. (I am happy that she succeeds.)

If the subjunctive feels abstract now, focus on the common triggers first. With practice in guided dialogues inside our online French classes, the patterns become automatic.

Quick pitfalls to avoid:

• Forgetting the -iss- in plural present forms, for example, writing nous finons instead of nous finissons.
• Using être instead of avoir for the passé composé with regular -ir verbs.
• Mixing imparfait and passé composé by choosing the wrong tense for habit versus completed event.

List of Common Regular -ir Verbs with Meanings

Here is a practical list of common regular -ir verbs with meanings, grouped to help memory. Every verb below follows the finir conjugation pattern, which makes practice efficient.

Common Regular -ir Verbs Grouped by Function

• Decisions and success: choisir (to choose), réussir (to succeed), réfléchir (to think, reflect), punir (to punish), investir (to invest)
• Growth and change: grandir (to grow up), grossir (to gain weight), maigrir (to lose weight), vieillir (to age), rajeunir (to rejuvenate)
• Colors and appearance: rougir (to blush, turn red), blanchir (to whiten), noircir (to blacken), verdir (to green), embellir (to beautify)
• Order and behavior: obéir (to obey), désobéir (to disobey), établir (to establish), réunir (to gather), finir (to finish)
• Everyday actions: nourrir (to feed), bâtir (to build), guérir (to heal), fleurir (to bloom), applaudir (to applaud)

Practical Examples in Context

Choisir: Elle choisit un dessert léger. Demain, elle choisira une salade. Elle choisirait autre chose si c’était moins cher.

Réussir: Ils réussissent parce qu’ils révisent. Hier, ils ont réussi l’examen. S’ils avaient plus de temps, ils réussiraient encore mieux.

Grandir: Mon fils grandit vite. Quand j’étais petit, je grandissais à la campagne. Un jour, il grandira à son tour loin de chez nous.

Obéir: L’enfant obéit à ses parents. Il faut qu’il obéisse aux règles de l’école. La semaine dernière, il a obéi sans discuter.

Guérir: Le patient guérit lentement. Le médecin veut qu’il guérisse complètement. Après le traitement, il a guéri.

For consistent vocabulary growth, combine lists with short speaking drills. In PrepFrench Classes, we use micro-stories and role-plays inside our French course modules to help you recall and use these verbs naturally.

FAQ: Regular -ir Verbs in French

What counts as a “regular -ir verb” in French, and how do I spot one quickly?

Regular -ir verbs are the second group French verbs that follow the finir conjugation pattern. You can spot them fast with two checks: their present participle ends in -issant, and their present plural forms have -iss-, for example, nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent. Their past participle ends in -i, such as fini, choisi, réussi. Verbs like partir, sortir, dormir, and servir are not in this group because they do not take -iss- in the plural. If you want practice identifying these patterns with a French teacher, try a free demo with PrepFrench Classes or join our structured online French classes.

Why do some -ir verbs have -iss- in the plural while others don’t?

The -iss- marker belongs to the second-group regular -ir verbs, like finir, choisir, grandir, réussir. It appears in the plural present forms: nous -issons, vous -issez, ils -issent. Other -ir verbs, such as partir, sortir, dormir, mentir, and servir, belong to irregular patterns and skip the -iss-. These irregulars are part of the third group. When you learn French with a structured French course, your teacher will group verbs by behavior, so you rely on patterns instead of memorizing each verb in isolation.

Do regular -ir verbs use avoir or être in the passé composé?

Regular -ir verbs use avoir in the passé composé: j’ai fini, tu as choisi, ils ont réussi. This is why you often see the guideline “passé composé regular -ir verbs avoir” in textbooks. Use être with reflexive forms and with a small set of primarily motion-related verbs, which are typically not second-group regular -ir verbs. For example, sortir can take être when it is intransitive, but sortir is irregular, not second group. If auxiliary choice confuses you, a quick review with PrepFrench French lessons will clarify it through examples and speaking practice.

What are the endings for regular -ir verbs in the present and imparfait?

Present tense endings: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent. Example with finir: je finis, tu finis, il finit, nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent. Imparfait endings are the same as other verbs: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. Build the stem from the present nous form: nous finissons → finiss-, then add endings: je finissais, tu finissais, il finissait, nous finissions, vous finissiez, ils finissaient. If you prefer guided drills, PrepFrench Classes offers online French classes where you practice these endings in conversation until they stick.

Can you give examples of common regular -ir verbs with meanings?

Useful second-group verbs include: finir (to finish), choisir (to choose), réussir (to succeed), grandir (to grow up), grossir (to gain weight), maigrir (to lose weight), réfléchir (to think), rougir (to blush), blanchir (to whiten), verdir (to green), obéir (to obey), désobéir (to disobey), réunir (to gather), bâtir (to build), guérir (to heal), nourrir (to feed), fleurir (to bloom), embellir (to beautify), applaudir (to applaud). All of these follow the finir conjugation pattern. To expand your French vocabulary with real-life examples, consider a structured French course with PrepFrench that pairs lists with speaking practice.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the regular -ir verbs in French gives you a clean, dependable framework for speaking and writing. You now know how to identify second-group verbs by the -issant participle and the -iss- in plural present forms. You can conjugate them in the present, build the passé composé with avoir and a past participle in -i, create background descriptions with the imparfait, express plans with the futur, form polite or hypothetical ideas with the conditionnel, and handle common triggers with the subjonctif.

The fastest progress comes from three habits: practice endings out loud to lock in French pronunciation and rhythm, recycle a small set of high-frequency verbs like finir and choisir across all tenses, and use short sentences that mirror real life. If you prefer a structured path with feedback, PrepFrench Classes gives you a simple plan, a supportive French teacher, and consistent speaking practice. You will use your verbs in context, not just on paper.

Keep this guide handy, return to the tables and examples as you review, and expand your list with a few new -ir verbs each week. Steady steps build real fluency.

✅ Next Step: Book a free demo class with PrepFrench Classes and start learning French the right way.

Keep practicing a little each day, and revisit this guide whenever you need a quick refresher on forms and usage.