Infinitive vs Conjugated Verbs in French
Are you confused between parler and je parle? This post breaks down the key difference between infinitive and conjugated verbs in French.
Learn when to use each form, see clear examples, and boost your grammar skills with confidence.
Infinitive Verb (le verbe à l’infinitif)
- This is the basic form of the verb.
- It’s not linked to any subject (no person, no tense).
- In French, infinitive verbs usually end in -er, -ir, or -re.
Examples:
- parler (to speak)
- finir (to finish)
- prendre (to take)
Je veux manger. (I want to eat.)
Conjugated Verb (le verbe conjugué)
- A conjugated verb changes its form to match the subject and tense.
- It tells who is doing the action and when.
Examples of conjugating parler (to speak) in the present tense:
- Je parle (I speak)
- Tu parles (You speak)
- Il/Elle parle (He/She speaks)
Each subject has its own verb form. That’s conjugation!
Quick Comparison:
| Verb Form | Example | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | aller | to go | Basic form |
| Conjugated | je vais | I go / I’m going | Subject “je” + present tense form |
Exercice 1:
Pour + verbe à l’infinitif ou EN + participe présent
Consigne : Complète chaque phrase avec pour ou en (…+ant).
1. Elle étudie ______ réussir son examen.
2. Il a appris le français ______ pratiquer tous les jours.
3. Je fais du sport ______ rester en bonne santé.
4. Ils ont résolu le problème ______ réfléchir ensemble.
5. Nous économisons de l’argent ______ acheter une voiture.
6. Elle s’est améliorée ______ écouter des podcasts en français.
7. Il travaille tard ______ terminer son projet à temps.
8. On progresse ______ faire des erreurs et les corriger.
Astuce mémo:
POUR + infinitive → purpose / goal (in order to)
EN + participe présent = naturel
Here are the English translations of the sentences:
She studies to succeed in her exam.
He learned French by practicing every day.
I exercise to stay healthy.
They solved the problem by thinking together.
We are saving money to buy a car.
She improved by listening to French podcasts.
He works late to finish his project on time.
We make progress by making mistakes and correcting them.
Basic Grammar for level 1 – List
1. The alphabet: L’alphabet
2. French Silent Letters: Lettres muettes françaises
3. French Letter Combinations: Combinaisons de lettres (Practice)
4. Articles: Articles
5. Masculine or feminine nouns: Noms masculins ou féminins
6. The interrogative form: la forme interrogative
a) Question words : Les mots interrogatifs
7. Prepositions(go, come – present) (Practice)
a) The preposition “à”
b) The preposition “de”
c) “Pour” Explained: For vs. To
8. French expressions:
a) Two words
b) Three words
9. Accents: Accents
10. Liaison: Liaison
11. Possessive adjectives: Adjectifs possessifs (Practice)
12. The negative form: La forme négative
a) Negative words in French: Les mots négatifs en français
13. C’est – Il est – elle est: It is – He is – she is
14. Quiz Game Level 1: Quiz
Basic Conjugation for L1
1. Personal Pronouns: Personal Pronouns
a) Subject pronouns: Pronoms sujets
b) You or you: Tu or vous
c) (Practice)
2.Infinitive and conjugated verbs
3. The verb to be: Le verbe être
4. The verb to have: Le verbe avoir
5. The verb to go: Le verbe aller
6. The verb to do: Le verbe faire
7. To be, To have, To go, To do
8. ER Verbs : (Phonetic pronunciation)
9. IR Verbs: (Phonetic pronunciation)
10. RE Verbs: (Phonetic pronunciation)
11. Sentences with ER verbs
12. Sentences with IR verbs
13. Sentences with RE verbs
14. Most Common French Verbs
15. REGULAR Verbs:
a) (Verbes)
b) (Sentences)
c) (Practice)
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French Resources for Level 1:
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Infinitif vs Verbes conjugués en français – Grammar