Mastering RE Verb Conjugation in French: Rules, Charts, and Irregulars

When learning French grammar, verbs ending in -RE present a unique and rewarding milestone. Belonging to the third conjugation group (le troisième groupe), -RE verbs include both predictable regular verbs and some of the most vital irregular verbs in the French language.

Whether you are preparing for a standardized French test (like DELF or TEF) or striving for everyday conversational fluency, this complete guide provides the exact rules, clear conjugation charts, and actionable memory tricks you need.

1. Regular -RE Verbs: The Core Pattern

Regular -RE verbs are often referred to as the vendre (to sell) family. While smaller in number than regular -ER verbs, their conjugation formula is dependable and logical once you break it down.

How to Conjugate in the Present Tense

To conjugate any regular -RE verb in the present tense (présent de l'indicatif), remove the -re ending from the infinitive to identify the stem, then append the standard endings:

  • Je : stem + -s
  • Tu : stem + -s
  • Il / Elle / On : stem + no ending (keep the stem's final letter)
  • Nous : stem + -ons
  • Vous : stem + -ez
  • Ils / Elles : stem + -ent

> Key Rule: For the 3rd person singular (il/elle/on), do not add an ending. The verb ends with the root consonant (usually -d).

Standard Conjugation Chart: Vendre (To sell)

Subject Pronoun Ending Conjugation Pronunciation / Meaning
:--- :--- :--- :---
Je -s Je vends I sell / I am selling
Tu -s Tu vends You sell (informal)
Il / Elle / On (none) Il vend He / She / One sells
Nous -ons Nous vendons We sell
Vous -ez Vous vendez You sell (formal/plural)
Ils / Elles -ent Ils vendent They sell

Pronunciation note: In je vends, tu vends, and il vend, the final consonants are silent. They all sound identical: `[vɑ̃]`.

2. Common Regular -RE Verbs to Memorize

You can conjugate dozens of frequent verbs by mirroring the vendre template:

  • Attendre (to wait / to wait for): J'attends mon ami à la gare. (I am waiting for my friend at the station.)
  • Descendre (to go down / to descend): Nous descendons les escaliers. (We go down the stairs.)
  • Entendre (to hear): Tu entends la musique ? (Do you hear the music?)
  • Perdre (to lose): Il perd souvent patience. (He often loses patience.)
  • Répondre (to answer / reply): Elles répondent rapidement. (They reply quickly.)
  • Défendre (to defend / forbid): Le garde défend l'entrée. (The guard defends the entrance.)

    • 3. Essential Irregular -RE Verb Families

Not all -RE verbs follow vendre. Many common verbs are irregular, but they conveniently cluster into recognizable families.

The Prendre Family (apprendre, comprendre, surprendre)

  • Je prends, tu prends, il prend
  • Nous prenons, vous prenez, ils prennent

    • These verbs drop the -d in the plural and double the -n in the third-person plural:

    The Mettre Family (permettre, promettre, soumettre)

  • Je mets, tu mets, il met
  • Nous mettons, vous mettez, ils mettent

    • These verbs use only one t in singular forms and keep both tt in plural forms:

    Verbs ending in -uire (conduire, traduire, produire)

  • Je conduis, tu conduis, il conduit
  • Nous conduisons, vous conduisez, ils conduisent

    • These verbs insert an -s- sound across all plural forms:

    Top High-Frequency Irregular Verbs

  • Être (to be): suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont
  • Faire (to do / make): fais, fais, fait, faisons, faites, font
  • Dire (to say / tell): dis, dis, dit, disons, dites, disent
  • Boire (to drink): bois, bois, boit, buvons, buvez, boivent

    • Four indispensable verbs have unique conjugation patterns:

    4. Other Essential Tenses for -RE Verbs

    Passé Composé (Past Tense)

  • Vendre ➔ vendu (J'ai vendu mon vélo.)
  • Attendre ➔ attendu (Nous avons attendu le train.)

    • For regular -RE verbs, the past participle is formed by replacing -re with -u:

  • Prendre ➔ pris
  • Mettre ➔ mis
  • Faire ➔ fait
  • Dire ➔ dit
  • Boire ➔ bu

    • Common irregular past participles to know:

    Futur Simple (Future Tense)

  • Vendre ➔ Je vendrai, tu vendras, il vendra...
  • Prendre ➔ Je prendrai, tu prendras, il prendra...

    • To form the future tense of any -RE verb (regular or irregular stem), drop the silent final -e from the infinitive and attach standard future endings (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont):

    5. Three Golden Rules to Avoid Frequent Mistakes

1. Never add "t" to regular -DRE verbs: Write Il répond, never Il répond-t or Il répont.

2. Beware of "Vous faites" and "Vous dites": These do not end in -ez. Saying vous faisez is a telltale beginner error.

3. Check agreement with preceding direct objects: When using avoir in compound tenses, remember standard agreement rules (Les lettres qu'il a vendues).

By practicing the core vendre chart and recognizing the primary irregular families, you can navigate French -RE verbs with complete accuracy and confidence.