🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

Common Irregular French Verbs in Present Tense

Irregular verbs break the standard conjugation rules and must be memorized. The most common irregular verbs like aller (to go), faire (to do/make), and pouvoir (can) are essential for everyday French conversation.

Short answer

Common irregular verbs in present tense include: aller (je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont), faire (je fais, tu fais, il fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils font), and many others that each follow unique patterns.

Irregular verbs: aller vs. faire patterns

Aller (to go)

•je vais
•tu vas
•il va
•nous allons
•vous allez
•ils vont

Faire (to do/make)

•je fais
•tu fais
•il fait
•nous faisons
•vous faites
•ils font

Step-by-step worked examples

Aller (to go) — je __

Aller is highly irregular.
The je form is: vais
Answer: Je vais (I go)

Faire (to do) — nous __

Faire is irregular with stem changes.
The nous form is: faisons
Answer: Nous faisons (We do)

Pouvoir (can/to be able) — ils __

Pouvoir follows an unusual pattern.
The ils form is: peuvent
Answer: Ils peuvent (They can)

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Aller (to go) — je __

Correct answer: A. Je vais = I go. This is highly irregular; must memorize.

Q2.Faire (to do) — vous __

Correct answer: C. Vous faites = You (formal/plural) do. Irregular stem shift from fais→fait→faisons→faites.

Q3.Pouvoir (can) — tu __

Correct answer: B. Tu peux = You can. Irregular verb with stem shift.

Q4.Vouloir (want) — ils __

Correct answer: A. Ils veulent = They want. Highly irregular.

📄Download this topic as a printable worksheet (PDF)Summary + 10 questions + answer key — print it, share it in class.↓

Study better with Bounlu apps

Notek

The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “Common Irregular French Verbs in Present Tense” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.

Get it free

PromyNever miss an exam or homework deadline with Promy: AI turns the dates in your inbox into reminders automatically.

Common mistakes

✗

Treating aller like a regular verb: aller → j'alle. — Correct: Aller is irregular: je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons.

✗

Confusing faire and other irregular verbs. — Correct: Each irregular verb has its own unique pattern.

✗

Forgetting the stem shift in pouvoir: je puis → je peux. — Correct: Pouvoir stem changes from puis (archaic) to peux (modern).

✗

Assuming tu/il sound the same for aller. — Correct: Tu vas vs. il va sound different due to liaison/stress.

FAQ

What are irregular verbs in French present tense?

Verbs that do not follow the standard -ER, -IR, or -RE conjugation patterns. Examples: aller, faire, pouvoir, vouloir, devoir.

How many irregular verbs must I memorize?

About 20-30 high-frequency irregular verbs cover 80% of conversational needs.

Can irregular verbs be predicted?

No, they must be memorized. However, some groups share mini-patterns.

Are there stem-changing irregular verbs?

Yes, many show stem shifts: faire (fais vs. faisons), pouvoir (peux vs. pouvons).