Present Tense: -ir Verbs (finir)

These verbs have a special secret trait. They have a hissing sound in the plural. This happens when you talk about "we" or "they." You add an -iss- before the final ending. It sounds like a friendly snake. It makes the verb feel longer and elegant. It sounds very French and very sophisticated. You will love how it flows. This sound helps you distinguish between one person and many. It is a very clever design. Yes, even native speakers appreciate this clarity. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It tells you exactly where you are in the sentence.

1. 1Find the infinitive of the verb, like finir.
2. 2Remove the -ir at the end.
3. 3Now you have the stem, which is fin-.
4. 4Add the singular endings to the stem.
5. 5For je, add -is. Result: je finis.
6. 6For tu, add -is. Result: tu finis.
7. 7For il or elle, add -it. Result: il finit.
8. 8Add the plural endings with the hiss.
9. 9For nous, add -issons. Result: nous finissons.
10. 10For vous, add -issez. Result: vous finissez.
11. 11For ils or elles, add -issent. Result: ils finissent.
12. 12Remember, the -ent at the end is silent.

Use this tense for things happening right now. Use it for your daily habits. Imagine you are at a French bakery. You see a chocolate cake. You see a lemon tart. You must decide quickly. You say, Je choisis le gâteau. You feel proud and hungry. Use it when you finish a marathon. Je finis la course !. Your friends will cheer for you. Use it when you grow taller. Tu grandis vite !. It is perfect for physical changes. Use it when you succeed at work. Nous réussissons notre projet. It is the language of achievement. It is very practical for real life.

Not all verbs ending in -ir are regular. Some are rebels with their own rules. Partir is a famous rebel. Sortir and dormir are also rebels. They do not use the "hiss" sound. They do not follow this pattern. We call them irregular -ir verbs. Do not use the finir rules for them. It would sound very strange to a local. If you say nous dormissons, people will smile. They will know you are still learning. Stick to the regular ones for now. The rebels have their own special club.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the -iss-. Many people say nous finons. This is a big red flag. It must be nous finissons. Always remember the snake sound for groups. Another mistake is mixing up the endings. Some people write il finis with an s. But the third person needs a t. Il finit is the correct way. It is like forgetting to salt your pasta. It still works, but it is not right. Don't worry, you will get it with practice. Even experts had to learn this once.

-er verbs are the biggest group in French. They are very simple and direct. -ir verbs are the second group. they are slightly more complex in the plural. But they are much more predictable than the third group. The third group is pure chaos. The second group is a calm harbor. You will appreciate the logic here. -er verbs use e, es, e. -ir verbs use is, is, it. They have their own distinct personalities. One is a breezy summer day. The other is a structured, elegant evening.