French -ir Verbs: Finishing & Choosing (finir)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To conjugate regular -ir verbs, drop the -ir and add: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent.
- Remove the -ir ending to find the stem: 'finir' becomes 'fin-'.
- Add the endings: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent.
- Remember that 'nous' and 'vous' forms add an extra 'ss' sound.
Overview
French verbs categorize into groups based on their infinitive endings. The -ir verbs represent a significant and common group, often referred to as the second group of regular French verbs. While less numerous than -er verbs, they are crucial for expressing a broad spectrum of actions and states at the A1 level and beyond.
Understanding their consistent conjugation pattern is fundamental for any beginner.
This guide focuses specifically on the regular -ir verb pattern, using finir (to finish) as the primary example. This conjugation serves as a model for many other highly frequent verbs, such as choisir (to choose), réussir (to succeed), grandir (to grow), blanchir (to whiten), and rougir (to blush). Mastering finir effectively unlocks the ability to confidently use hundreds of other verbs following the same predictable structure.
The defining feature of these regular -ir verbs is the distinctive -iss- suffix, which appears in the plural forms (nous, vous, ils/elles). This infix acts as a clear auditory and written marker, differentiating them from other verb groups, particularly the -er verbs. Recognizing and correctly producing this pattern is a foundational step in building your French fluency, enabling you to articulate current actions, ongoing processes, and habitual behaviors with precision and confidence.
Conjugation Table
| Subject Pronoun | Verb Form | English Translation | Phonetic Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :-------------- | :---------- | :------------------------- | :------------------------------------------- | ||
Je |
finis |
I finish / I am finishing | fin-ee (silent s). The i sounds like 'ee' in 'see'. |
||
Tu |
finis |
You (s., informal) finish | fin-ee (silent s). Identical pronunciation to je finis. |
||
Il/Elle/On |
finit |
He/She/One finishes | fin-ee (silent t). Identical pronunciation to je finis and tu finis. |
||
Nous |
finissons |
We finish / are finishing | fin-ee-ss-on. The ss is pronounced like the s in 'kiss'. on sounds like the 'on' in 'song', nasalized. |
||
Vous |
finissez |
You (pl., formal) finish | fin-ee-ss-ay. The ss is pronounced. ez sounds like 'ay' in 'say'. |
||
Ils/Elles |
finissent |
They finish / are finishing | fin-ee-ss. The ss is pronounced. The final ent is silent. |
How This Grammar Works
le présent de l'indicatif, serves several crucial functions. For regular -ir verbs, it primarily describes actions happening at the moment of speaking, habitual or repeated actions, or general truths and facts. The predictable nature of these verbs makes them a highly reliable and accessible building block for A1 learners, as they exhibit very few deviations from this standard pattern once you learn it.-ir verbs is derived from their infinitive form. To conjugate, you first identify the radical or stem by removing the -ir ending. For example, from finir, the stem is fin-.-ir verbs is the mandatory insertion of a -iss- suffix between the stem and the ending for all plural subject pronouns (nous, vous, ils/elles).-iss- is not merely a written convention; it fundamentally impacts the pronunciation, creating a clear sibilant sound (ss) that is characteristic of this group. For instance, with choisir (to choose), the stem is chois-. When conjugating for nous, the process is chois- + -iss- + ons, resulting in nous choisissons.-iss- ensures consistency across all verbs within this regular -ir category. This grammatical mechanism provides a structured, unambiguous way to express present actions, reinforcing the categorization of these verbs and aiding clarity in French communication. It's a foundational element of French verbal morphology.Formation Pattern
-ir verb in the present tense involves a consistent, two-step process. This method allows you to accurately conjugate any verb belonging to this large and predictable group. Once you internalize these steps, you can apply them universally to verbs such as grandir (to grow), réfléchir (to reflect), obéir (to obey), or punir (to punish).
Radical): Begin with the verb's infinitive form. This is the unconjugated form you find in dictionaries (e.g., finir, choisir, réussir). To find the stem, simply remove the -ir ending. The remaining part is your radical or stem. For finir, the stem is fin-. For choisir, it's chois-. This stem forms the unchanging base for all conjugated forms, before the specific endings are added.
-iss- that appears before the endings for the plural subject pronouns (nous, vous, ils/elles). These endings are fixed and must be memorized to ensure correct conjugation. The singular forms do not include -iss-.
fin- as our example:
Radical) | Infix (-iss-) | Ending | Conjugated Form | Example Sentence |
Je | fin- | — | -is | finis | Je finis mes devoirs à temps. (I finish my homework on time.) |
Tu | fin- | — | -is | finis | Tu finis toujours ton assiette. (You always finish your plate.) |
Il/Elle/On | fin- | — | -it | finit | Elle finit le livre ce soir. (She finishes the book tonight.) |
Nous | fin- | iss | -ons | finissons | Nous finissons le projet ensemble. (We finish the project together.) |
Vous | fin- | iss | -ez | finissez | Vous finissez votre travail à quelle heure ? (At what time do you finish your work?) |
Ils/Elles | fin- | iss | -ent | finissent | Ils finissent les cours tôt. (They finish classes early.) |
-iss- segment for nous, vous, and ils/elles to correctly form these verbs. Omitting it is a very common beginner error and fundamentally alters the verb's structure for this particular group, often rendering the word incorrect or causing confusion with other verb types. The regularity of this pattern is a significant advantage for learners.
When To Use It
-ir verbs, is remarkably versatile, covering a wide range of actions and situations. Understanding these contexts will help you apply the conjugation correctly and naturally in conversations and writing. For A1 learners, focusing on these core uses is essential for building foundational communication skills.- Actions Happening Now: Use the present tense to describe what is occurring at the very moment of speaking. Unlike English, French does not have a separate continuous form (
-ing). Instead, the simple present tense covers both
Conjugation of -ir Verbs (Finir)
| Subject | Ending | Verb |
|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
-is
|
finis
|
|
Tu
|
-is
|
finis
|
|
Il/Elle/On
|
-it
|
finit
|
|
Nous
|
-issons
|
finissons
|
|
Vous
|
-issez
|
finissez
|
|
Ils/Elles
|
-issent
|
finissent
|
Meanings
This rule covers the conjugation of regular verbs ending in -ir, which describe actions that are completed or processes that reach a conclusion.
Completion
To finish or complete an action.
“Je finis mon livre.”
“Nous finissons le travail.”
Selection
To choose or select from options.
“Je choisis cette robe.”
“Ils choisissent le rouge.”
Growth/Change
To grow or become (e.g., grandir).
“Il grandit vite.”
“Les enfants grandissent.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb
|
Je finis.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + ne + Verb + pas
|
Je ne finis pas.
|
|
Interrogative
|
Verb + Subject?
|
Finis-tu?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Oui/Non + Subject + Verb
|
Oui, je finis.
|
|
Plural
|
Subject + Verb
|
Nous finissons.
|
|
Formal Question
|
Est-ce que + Subject + Verb?
|
Est-ce que tu finis?
|
Formality Spectrum
Je termine le travail. (Work)
Je finis le travail. (Work)
Je finis le boulot. (Work)
Je boucle le truc. (Work)
The -ir Verb Family
Actions
- finir to finish
- choisir to choose
States
- grandir to grow
- réussir to succeed
Examples by Level
Je finis mon travail.
I finish my work.
Tu choisis le bleu.
You choose the blue one.
Il finit à cinq heures.
He finishes at five o'clock.
Nous finissons le dîner.
We are finishing dinner.
Vous choisissez quel plat ?
Which dish do you choose?
Ils grandissent très vite.
They are growing very fast.
Je ne finis pas mon livre.
I am not finishing my book.
Elle choisit une nouvelle voiture.
She is choosing a new car.
Nous choisissons de partir demain.
We choose to leave tomorrow.
Est-ce que tu finis ton projet ?
Are you finishing your project?
Les arbres grandissent dans le jardin.
The trees are growing in the garden.
Vous choisissez toujours le meilleur.
You always choose the best.
Il finit par comprendre la règle.
He ends up understanding the rule.
Nous choisissons cette option par prudence.
We choose this option out of caution.
Elles grandissent en maturité.
They are growing in maturity.
Vous finissez votre tâche avec succès.
You are finishing your task successfully.
Il choisit de ne pas intervenir.
He chooses not to intervene.
Nous finissons par accepter les termes.
We end up accepting the terms.
Le projet grandit en importance.
The project is growing in importance.
Vous choisissez le moment opportun.
You are choosing the opportune moment.
Il finit par se rendre compte de son erreur.
He eventually realizes his mistake.
Nous choisissons d'adopter une approche différente.
We choose to adopt a different approach.
La ville grandit en influence culturelle.
The city is growing in cultural influence.
Vous finissez votre discours avec brio.
You are finishing your speech with brilliance.
Easily Confused
Learners think all -ir verbs follow the same pattern.
Mixing up the endings.
Both mean 'to finish'.
Common Mistakes
Je finie
Je finis
Nous finisons
Nous finissons
Il finis
Il finit
Ils finissentent
Ils finissent
Vous finissez-vous
Finissez-vous
Je ne finis
Je ne finis pas
Nous choisissons le
Nous choisissons
Il partit
Il part
Nous finissons de manger
Nous finissons de manger
Ils choisissent que...
Ils choisissent de...
Il finit par de faire
Il finit par faire
Nous grandissons en la taille
Nous grandissons en taille
Ils choisissent le meilleur des options
Ils choisissent la meilleure option
Sentence Patterns
Je ___ mon travail.
Nous ___ le meilleur choix.
Ils ___ de grandir.
Vous ___ par réussir.
Real World Usage
Je finis le rapport.
Je choisis le menu.
Je finis mon défi !
Nous choisissons cet hôtel.
Tu finis tes devoirs ?
Je choisis cette couleur.
The 'iss' rule
Irregular verbs
Context is key
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always add the 'iss' sound.
Check if it's regular first.
Focus on the rhythm.
Double check your endings.
Pronunciation
The -iss sound
The 'ss' is pronounced as a sharp 's' sound, not a 'z' sound.
Rising for questions
Tu finis ? ↗
Yes/No question intonation
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of the 'iss' in the plural as 'I-S-S' (I See Success) to remember the extra letters.
Visual Association
Imagine a finish line (finir) where you have to choose (choisir) which path to take. You see a giant 'ISS' sign above the path.
Rhyme
For -ir verbs, it's simple and true, add -is, -is, -it, then -issons for you!
Story
I finish (je finis) my homework. You finish (tu finis) yours too. He finishes (il finit) early. We finish (nous finissons) together, you finish (vous finissez) the snack, and they finish (ils finissent) the game.
Word Web
Challenge
Conjugate 'choisir' for all six subjects in under 30 seconds.
Cultural Notes
French speakers value precision; using 'finir' correctly is seen as a sign of respect for time.
In Quebec, you might hear 'finir' used with slightly different colloquial prepositions.
In many West African French-speaking countries, 'finir' is used in very common, rhythmic ways.
Derived from Latin verbs ending in -ire.
Conversation Starters
À quelle heure finis-tu ton travail ?
Quel plat choisis-tu au restaurant ?
Est-ce que tu finis toujours tes projets ?
Comment choisis-tu tes priorités ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Je ___ mon travail.
Nous ___ le chemin.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ils finissentent le jeu.
Je finis.
Choisir
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
le / je / finis / travail
All -ir verbs are regular.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJe ___ mon travail.
Nous ___ le chemin.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ils finissentent le jeu.
Je finis.
Choisir
Nous / Finir
le / je / finis / travail
All -ir verbs are regular.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesVous ___ le formulaire.
We are choosing.
finis / mon / Je / café
Choose the correct form:
Match these:
Tu finit le livre.
Les enfants ___ vite.
I am succeeding.
Pick the plural form:
On ___ toujours ensemble.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, many are irregular.
It's a historical suffix.
Use it for tasks.
It sounds wrong to natives.
Very similar.
Je ne finis pas.
Yes.
For choices.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Terminar
Spanish lacks the -iss infix.
Beenden
German is not a Romance language.
Owaru
Japanese is not Indo-European.
Intaha
Arabic is a Semitic language.
Wancheng
Chinese is analytic.
Finire
Italian uses -isc- instead of -iss-.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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