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."
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.
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
Video courtesy of Learn French Through Music
Prendre
Video courtesy of Imagiers.
Video courtesy of Imagiers.