Les Verbes Irréguliers: faire, prendre, boire, servir

Notes

• The irregular verbs faire, prendre, boire, and servir are common irregular verbs. See their conjugations and uses below.

faire: to make/do

• The irregular verb "faire" means to make/to do, and is used in many expressions. Here are some examples:
• Weather expressions:
  Quel temps fait-il?: What is the weather like?
  il fait beau: it is beautiful
  il fait mal: it is bad
  il fait chaud: it is hot
  il fait frais: it is fair
  il fait nuageux: it is cloudy
  il fait du soleil: it is sunny
• Sports and leisure activities:
  faire du vélo: to go bike riding
  faire du bateau: to go boating
  faire de la planche à voile: to go windsurfing
  faire du ski: to go skiing
  faire la randonnée: to go on a walk
• Household chores:
  faire du shopping/des achats: to go shopping
  faire la cuisine: to cook
  faire des courses: to run errands
  faire la lessive: to do the laundry
  faire la vaiselle: to do the dishes
  faire le ménage: to do housework
• Examples:
  Je vais faire du vélo ce week-end. > I am going to ride bikes this weekend.
  Il fait frais aujourd'hui. > It is fair outside today.
  Je fais la randonnée toujours! > I always go on walks!

prendre: to take

• Prendre is also a very common French verb and is used in many ways.
• Prendre also has a few verbs that are conjugated the exact same way, but something is added to the beginning of the conjugation.
  apprendre: to learn > J'apprends le français à ce moment.
  surprendre: to surprise > Il surprend son ami avec une fête surprise!
  comprendre: to understand > Nous comprenons que le verbe "prendre" est très important.
  
• Prendre is also used in a variety of  expressions:
  prendre la retraite: to retire
  prendre une décision: to make a decision
  prendre un pot: to have a drink
  Qu'est-ce que t'a pris?: What's gotten into you?

boire: to drink

• Boire is an irregular verb that means "to drink."
• Most often, boire will be followed by a partitive article.
• Examples:
  Elle boit du coca toujours! > She is always drinking Coke.
  Nous buvons de l'eau avant la musculation. > We drink water before exercising.
  Tu vas boire plus du café, non? > You are going to drink more coffee, right?

servir: to serve

• The verb servir means "to serve."
• Examples:
  Je sers le dessert après le plat principal. > I serve dessert after the main course.
  Nous servons les autres avec nos actions. > We serve others with our actions.

Additional Sites

Les Verbes Irréguliers
A list of all of the conjugations of irregular verbs.

Faire
Information on the conjugation and usage of the verb "faire."

Activities

Quizlet: Conjugations
Conjugations of the four verbs plus previously learned verbs.

Quizlet Definitions
Definitions of the different conjugations of the four verbs plus previously learned verbs.

Videos

Here are some catchy songs to help you to memorize the conjugations of a few of these verbs.

Faire
Video courtesy of Learn French Through Music

Prendre
​Video courtesy of Imagiers.