French for Beginners Read Online Free Page B

Conjugation also depends on the pronoun attached to the verb. Take for instance the verb bâtir (to build):
Pronoun
Rules for conjugation
Ending word
Je
Replace -r with -s
Bâtis
Tu
Same rule as with the pronoun je
Bâtis
Il
Replace -r with -t
Bâtit
Nous
Replace -r with -ssons
Bâtissons
Vous
Replace -r with -ssez
Bâtissez
Ils
Replace -r with -ssent
Bâtissent
     
    3.        Regular -RE verbs - these verbs end in -re and are also of the infinitive form. Conjugation still depends on the pronoun attached to the verb. Take as an example the word défendre (to defend):
Pronoun
Rules for conjugation
Ending word
Je
Replace the -re with -s
Défends
Tu
Same rule as with the pronoun je
Défends
Il
Remove the -re completely
Défend
Nous
Replace the -re with -ons
Défendons
Vous
Replace the -re with -ez
Défendez
Ils
Replace the -re with -ent
Défendent
     
    4.       Stem-changing verbs - just like in the English verb categories, French stem-changing verbs also have two different stems that change in spelling or syllable stress depending on whether it is used with singular or plural pronouns. These are also called boot verbs because when the pronouns are listed 3 to a column, the similar verbs for each pronoun would often end up forming the shape of a boot.
    Take for example the word geler (to freeze). This is conjugated in the same way as regular verbs but then the spelling of the stem word undergoes a tiny change, mostly by changing the first ‘e' with an ‘é'. Conjugating this word in the present tense would go as follows:
    je géle                                          nous gelons
    tu géles                            vous gelez
    il géle                                          ils gélent
    If you draw an interconnected line to encircle the conjugations that have the letter ‘é' as the first vowel, the resulting shape would be that of a boot or a shoe. This process makes it easy for non-native French speakers to remember how stem-changing verbs are conjugated in everyday usage depending on the tense of the verb and the pronoun that is attached to the verb.
     
    5.       Irregular verbs - these verbs take the same form as regular verbs because they also end in -er, -ir, and -re. However, unlike regular French verbs, irregular verbs do not have a regular pattern for conjugation. In some cases, the spelling of the word could completely change in order to match the pronoun with which it is used. An example of this is the word être (to be). This words tops the list of the most widely-used French verbs, and it is conjugated in every usage through the following ways:
                  Je suis , sometimes shortened to j'suis
    Tu es
                  Il est
    Nous sommes
                  Vous êtes
    Ils sont
    It may take time for French-language learners to completely understand how French verbs are conjugated, especially given the fact that there are more than a thousand French verbs out there. However, once the individual has learned the basics of conjugating the most commonly-used verbs, he would often find it easier to move on to the more complex forms of French verbs.

Chapter 5: French Pronouns: Formal and Informal Usage
     
    As everyone is probably aware of, pronouns are used for replacing nouns in order to avoid redundancy or to simply make sentences shorter and more direct to the point. French pronouns function in the same way. However, unlike English pronouns, French pronouns usually take on different forms in order to fit into situations. Specifically, French pronouns are divided into two different categories
    Category 1: Personal Pronouns
    There are 5 primary types of personal pronouns used in the French language. These are:
Je /ʒ e/ - refers to the 1st-person singular and is used if the pronoun is the subject in the sentence. It is then changed to me / m ə / when the