Basic Verbs and Conjugations:
Aimer, Aller, Avoir, Dire, Être, Faire, Prendre, and Venir

Goal: To introduce conjugations and eight "Must-Know" verbs 

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What are Conjugations?

If you feel that you already know enough about conjugations, click here.

Conjugations are the forms of verbs that follow nouns or subject pronouns. Let's look at some conjugations in action.

I am learning French.
Mary and Ben are learning French.
He is learning French.

All of these sentences have the verb "to be" in them. Depending on the subject of the sentence, different conjugations of "to be" are used. Now, let's look at a different verb:

We think French is fun.
She thinks French is fun.
You think French is fun.

All of these sentences contain conjugations of the verb "to think." Depending on the subject, different conjugations are used.

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Basic Verbs and their Conjugations

In every language, there are certain "must-know" words. Some "must-know" French verbs are:

• aimer (to like)
• aller (to go)
• avoir (to have)
• dire (to say)
• être (to be)
• faire (to do; to make)
• prendre (to take)
• venir (to come)

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Aimer: To Like

Aimer: Reviewing the Examples

J'aime les chats, toi? = I like cats, do you?
Elle aime faire du vélo. = She likes to ride bikes.
Elles aiment aller en France. = They like to go to France.

A final example:

Nous aimons les fermes. = We like farms.

In this lesson:
aimer | aller | avoir | dire | être | faire | prendre | venir
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Aller: To Go

Aller: Reviewing the Examples

Tu vas à la banque. = You go to the bank.
Vous allez nager en été? = Are you going to swim in summer?
Ils vont à Paris chaque année. = They go to Paris each year.

A final example:

Allez à ma ferme! = Go to my farm!

In this lesson:
aimer | aller | avoir | dire | être | faire | prendre | venir
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Avoir: To Have

Avoir: Reviewing the Examples

Il a un petit chien. = He has a little dog.
Nous avons une soeur et deux frères. = We have one sister and two brothers.
Vous avez le français le matin. = You have French (class) in the morning.

A final example:

As-tu un agneau = Do you have a lamb?

In this lesson:
aimer | aller | avoir | dire | être | faire | prendre | venir
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Dire: To Say

Dire: Reviewing the Examples

Je dis ce que je pense. = I say what I think.
Il dit, «Salut!» = He says, "Hi!"
Nous disons, «Qui-est ce?» = We say, "Who is it?"

A final example:

On dit, «Ah! Un agneau!» = Someone says, "Oh! A lamb!"

In this lesson:
aimer | aller | avoir | dire | être | faire | prendre | venir
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New Lesson 

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Être: To Be

Être: Reviewing the Examples

Tu es à l'école le lundi. = You are at school on Monday.
Je suis dans ma chambre. = I am in my room.
Ils sont petits! = They are small!

A final example:

Je suis un agneau = I am a lamb.

In this lesson:
aimer | aller | avoir | dire | être | faire | prendre | venir
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New Lesson 

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Faire: To Do; To Make

Faire: Reviewing the Examples

Il fait la vaiselle. = He does the dishes.
Elles font de la natation. = They do swimming.
Nous faisons des gâteaux chocolats. = We make chocolate cakes.

A final example:

De l'herbe? Faites voir! = Grass? Let me see!

In this lesson:
aimer | aller | avoir | dire | être | faire | prendre | venir
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New Lesson 

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Prendre: To Take

Prendre: Reviewing the Examples

Tu prends du café au lait? = You take coffee with milk?
Je prends une salade, s'il vous plaît. = I'll take a salad, please.
Elles prennent un bain le soir. = They take a bath at night.

A final example:

Prenez-vous de l'herbe = Do you take grass?

In this lesson:
aimer | aller | avoir | dire | être | faire | prendre | venir
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New Lesson 

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Venir: To Come

Venir: Reviewing the Examples

On vient de l'Italie. = We come from Italy.
Nous venons en bus ou en metro? = Do we come by bus or by metro?
Ils viennent d'où? = Where are they from?

A final example:

Venez me voir! = Come see me!

(Do you know these verbs? Click here to find out!)