|
Regular
Verbs
Regular
verbs are relatively easy for most francophones, since most of them resemble
French. On these next few pages are around 900 of the most common ones.
Form:
When
we use a regular verb in the Simple Past tense, it always ends in "-ed."
Almost
all of these regular verbs can become adjectives if you add "-ed" to the
end. Adjectives follow the verb be.
Don't confuse them with the past form. Adjectives are usually states,
which can be past, present or future.
Roughly
half of English comes from French. Can you determine what these verbs
mean in French? They should be very easy for you.
| abuse |
|
endure |
|
point |
| accept |
|
engage |
|
polish |
| accomplish |
|
enter |
|
pollute |
| accost |
|
establish |
|
pose |
| accuse |
|
examine |
|
possess |
| admire |
|
excite |
|
post |
| admit |
|
excuse |
|
practise |
| adore |
|
exercise |
|
pray |
| advantage |
|
exist |
|
preach |
| affect |
|
expire |
|
precede |
| aid |
|
explode |
|
prefer |
| alert |
|
expose |
|
prepare |
| amuse |
|
|
|
present |
| analyze |
|
film |
|
preserve |
| announce |
|
force |
|
preside |
| appear |
|
form |
|
press |
| applaud |
|
found |
|
prevail |
| apply |
|
frustrate |
|
produce |
| appreciate |
|
fry |
|
program |
| approve |
|
function |
|
promise |
| arrange |
|
|
|
pronounce |
| arrest |
|
gallop |
|
protect |
| arrive |
|
grate |
|
protest |
| assassinate |
|
grease |
|
publish |
| attach |
|
guarantee |
|
punish |
| attack |
|
guard |
|
|
|
|
guide |
|
question |
| ban |
|
|
|
|
| boil |
|
hesitate |
|
radiate |
| bombard |
|
|
|
realize |
|
|
identify |
|
reappear |
| calculate |
|
ignore |
|
reason |
| camp |
|
illustrate |
|
receive |
| cause |
|
imagine |
|
recognize |
| centralize |
|
imitate |
|
recommend |
| certify |
|
implement |
|
reduce |
| change |
|
implicate |
|
refuse |
| charge |
|
implode |
|
regret |
| chase |
|
impress |
|
reign |
| collect |
|
include |
|
remark |
| colour |
|
indicate |
|
repair |
| command |
|
influence |
|
repeat |
| comment |
|
inform |
|
replace |
| communicate |
|
inject |
|
represent |
| compare |
|
inspect |
|
reproduce |
| complete |
|
install |
|
reside |
| complicate |
|
instruct |
|
resolve |
| comprehend |
|
insult |
|
respect |
| concentrate |
|
integrate |
|
respond |
| concern |
|
interest |
|
retire |
| conclude |
|
interrogate |
|
return |
| confess |
|
interrupt |
|
reveal |
| confide |
|
intervene |
|
rhyme |
| confront |
|
interview |
|
rinse |
| confuse |
|
introduce |
|
risk |
| connect |
|
invent |
|
ruin |
| consider |
|
invest |
|
|
| consist |
|
invite |
|
salivate |
| continue |
|
irritate |
|
satisfy |
| control |
|
|
|
save |
| copy |
|
join |
|
seem |
| correct |
|
judge |
|
select |
| count |
|
|
|
separate |
| cover |
|
lament |
|
serve |
| crack |
|
long |
|
sign |
| create |
|
|
|
signal |
| criticize |
|
mark |
|
simplify |
| cry |
|
marry |
|
submerge |
|
|
measure |
|
succumb |
| dance |
|
medal |
|
suffer |
| decentralize |
|
memorize |
|
suffocate |
| decide |
|
merit |
|
suggest |
| declare |
|
mimic |
|
supervise |
| decline |
|
multiply |
|
supply |
| decorate |
|
muzzle |
|
support |
| define |
|
|
|
suppose |
| demand |
|
name |
|
surprise |
| demonstrate |
|
neglect |
|
surrender |
| depend |
|
note |
|
suspend |
| deplore |
|
|
|
|
| describe |
|
obey |
|
tax |
| desert |
|
object |
|
terrify |
| desire |
|
observe |
|
test |
| detect |
|
obtain |
|
touch |
| develop |
|
occupy |
|
trace |
| direct |
|
offer |
|
transfer |
| disadvantage |
|
operate |
|
transport |
| disappoint |
|
oppose |
|
trap |
| disapprove |
|
organize |
|
tremble |
| disarm |
|
|
|
trot |
| discourage |
|
pardon |
|
trouble |
| discover |
|
part |
|
turn |
| discuss |
|
participate |
|
|
| diversify |
|
pass |
|
unite |
| divide |
|
pedal |
|
use |
| double |
|
perfect |
|
|
| doubt |
|
permit |
|
validate |
|
|
petition |
|
varnish |
| educate |
|
pinch |
|
visit |
| embellish |
|
place |
|
vote |
| employ |
|
plan |
|
|
| encourage |
|
plant |
|
|
Other regular verbs are not real verbs in French
but have a verb or an adjective which is similar. These should also be
relatively easy for you.
| abbreviate |
|
compete |
|
jog |
| act |
|
compromise |
|
neglect |
| argue |
|
damage |
|
pile |
| assert |
|
defraud |
|
queue |
| attract |
|
deliver |
|
reconcile |
| bat |
|
deny |
|
reflect |
| betray |
|
disgust |
|
rejoice |
| collect |
|
interfere |
|
release |
Other regular
verbs which can be dangerous for francophones, since they look similar
to French words but have very different meanings. These are called "False
Cognates" ("faux amis"). Check the meaning in a dictionary
or in the vocabulary section of this book.
| advertize |
|
deceive |
|
rely |
| advise |
|
deserve |
|
report |
| agree |
|
entertain |
|
rest |
| aim |
|
injure |
|
shock |
| assist |
|
license |
|
sue |
| attend |
|
march |
|
train |
| bless |
|
pretend |
|
transpire |
| bomb |
|
prevent |
|
try |
Still other
regular verbs imitate the sound that the performer does. This is called
"onomatopoeia." The closest equivalent in French is "faire ______."
| bang |
|
chirp |
|
meow |
| boom |
|
crash |
|
peep |
| buzz |
|
hiccup |
|
|
Something
that helps Quebecers learn English is the prevalence of "joual"
in their lives.
While it
may not help their French, joual is helpful in learning English because
many English words have entered their vocabulary and they naturally understand
their meaning. For these words, just add "-é" to the end
of the verb and there is a great chance that you will understand the English
meaning.
| back |
|
jack |
|
scratch |
| bitch |
|
jam |
|
settle |
| bleach |
|
joke |
|
shift |
| bolt |
|
jump |
|
ship |
| book |
|
|
|
skip |
| boost |
|
kick |
|
slack |
| botch |
|
knock |
|
sniff |
| brake |
|
|
|
spot |
| bump |
|
load |
|
squeeze |
|
|
loaf |
|
start |
| call |
|
|
|
step |
| chat |
|
match |
|
stool |
| check |
|
mind |
|
store |
| choke |
|
mix |
|
strap |
| chop |
|
move |
|
stretch |
| clean |
|
|
|
strip |
| clear |
|
order |
|
stripe |
| clip |
|
|
|
switch |
| close |
|
pack |
|
|
| clutch |
|
perform |
|
time |
| coach |
|
pitch |
|
tip |
|
|
plug |
|
tow |
| delete |
|
punch |
|
trust |
| drop |
|
|
|
twist |
|
|
|
|
type |
| fax |
|
rush |
|
|
| flash |
|
|
|
watch |
| flush |
|
scrap |
|
|
|
|
scrape |
|
zip |
| guess |
|
|
|
zoom |
On the same
subject, many irregular verbs have been introduced into joual also:
bid,
bust, catch, deal, fit, fly, grind, ride, run, shake, shine, shoot,
speed, spin, split, swing
Now
come the harder ones. These are words that often have to be learned by
heart, as they are not necessarily used in the daily speech of francophones.
| ache |
|
happen |
|
rule |
| add |
|
harass |
|
|
| afford |
|
harm |
|
sack |
| allow |
|
hate |
|
sail |
| amaze |
|
haul |
|
saw |
| annoy |
|
haunt |
|
scare |
| answer |
|
head |
|
scatter |
| apologize |
|
heal |
|
scold |
| ask |
|
heap |
|
scorch |
| attempt |
|
heat |
|
scorn |
| avoid |
|
help |
|
scream |
| await |
|
hire |
|
screw |
|
|
hitch |
|
scribble |
| bag |
|
hitchhike |
|
scrub |
| bake |
|
hone |
|
seal |
| balance |
|
hook |
|
search |
| bare |
|
hop |
|
shade |
| bath |
|
hope |
|
share |
| bathe |
|
hover |
|
sharpen |
| beam |
|
hug |
|
shelter |
| beg |
|
hum |
|
shiver |
| behave |
|
hunt |
|
shop |
| believe |
|
hurl |
|
short-change |
| belong |
|
hurry |
|
shorten |
| beware |
|
|
|
shrug |
| blind |
|
improve |
|
shuttle |
| blink |
|
increase |
|
sicken |
| blot |
|
index |
|
sigh |
| blush |
|
insure |
|
sight |
| boast |
|
intend |
|
sin |
| bore |
|
itch |
|
sip |
| borrow |
|
|
|
ski |
| bottle |
|
jail |
|
slap |
| bounce |
|
juggle |
|
sleigh |
| bow |
|
|
|
slip |
| box |
|
kid |
|
slow |
| breathe |
|
kidnap |
|
smash |
| bruise |
|
kill |
|
smile |
| brush |
|
kiss |
|
smoke |
| bubble |
|
kneel |
|
snatch |
| burn |
|
knight |
|
sneeze |
| bury |
|
knit |
|
snore |
|
|
knot |
|
snow |
| care |
|
|
|
snowball |
| carpet |
|
label |
|
soak |
| carry |
|
laugh |
|
solve |
| carve |
|
learn |
|
soothe |
| cash |
|
lengthen |
|
sound |
| chafe |
|
level |
|
spare |
| chair |
|
lick |
|
spark |
| challenge |
|
lie |
|
sparkle |
| chatter |
|
light |
|
spell |
| cheat |
|
lighten |
|
spill |
| cheer |
|
like |
|
spoil |
| chew |
|
limp |
|
sport |
| claim |
|
lisp |
|
spray |
| clap |
|
list |
|
sprout |
| climb |
|
listen |
|
squash |
| coil |
|
live |
|
squat |
| comb |
|
lock |
|
squeak |
| complain |
|
long |
|
squeal |
| complete |
|
look |
|
stain |
| concern |
|
love |
|
stamp |
| concur |
|
|
|
stare |
| congratulate |
|
man |
|
stash |
| consist |
|
manage |
|
stay |
| convince |
|
mate |
|
steer |
| cough |
|
matter |
|
stifle |
| covet |
|
meander |
|
stir |
| crash |
|
meddle |
|
stitch |
| crawl |
|
melt |
|
stop |
| cross |
|
mend |
|
stream |
| crush |
|
mess |
|
streamline |
| curb |
|
milk |
|
strengthen |
| cure |
|
miss |
|
stroke |
| curl |
|
moan |
|
strut |
| curve |
|
moisten |
|
study |
| cycle |
|
moor |
|
stuff |
|
|
morph |
|
stutter |
| dam |
|
mosey |
|
subtract |
| damn |
|
mourn |
|
succeed |
| dare |
|
muddle |
|
suck |
| decay |
|
mug |
|
suit |
| decrease |
|
murder |
|
surf |
| delay |
|
|
|
surround |
| delight |
|
nail |
|
suspect |
| destroy |
|
need |
|
swamp |
| devise |
|
nest |
|
|
| disagree |
|
nod |
|
table |
| disappear |
|
notice |
|
talk |
| dislike |
|
number |
|
tame |
| drag |
|
|
|
tap |
| drain |
|
occur |
|
target |
| dream |
|
offend |
|
taste |
| dress |
|
open |
|
tease |
| drip |
|
oust |
|
telephone |
| drown |
|
out |
|
tempt |
| drum |
|
outrun |
|
tend |
| dry |
|
outsmart |
|
thank |
| dub |
|
overcharge |
|
thaw |
| dust |
|
overflow |
|
tick |
|
|
owe |
|
tickle |
| earn |
|
overlap |
|
tie |
| empty |
|
overwhelm |
|
tighten |
| end |
|
own |
|
tiptoe |
| engineer |
|
|
|
tire |
| enhance |
|
pack |
|
tour |
| enjoy |
|
package |
|
tower |
| enlarge |
|
paddle |
|
trade |
| ensure |
|
paint |
|
translate |
| escape |
|
park |
|
travel |
| exit |
|
partner |
|
treat |
| expand |
|
paste |
|
trick |
| expect |
|
pat |
|
trickle |
| expend |
|
pause |
|
trip |
| explain |
|
peck |
|
tug |
| express |
|
peel |
|
tumble |
| extend |
|
phone |
|
twitter |
| exude |
|
pick |
|
|
|
|
pine |
|
undress |
| face |
|
play |
|
unfasten |
| fade |
|
please |
|
unlock |
| fail |
|
plough |
|
unpack |
| fancy |
|
poke |
|
up |
| fast |
|
pop |
|
|
| fasten |
|
pounce |
|
vacuum |
| fathom |
|
pour |
|
vanish |
| fear |
|
prick |
|
void |
| fence |
|
print |
|
vouch |
| fetter |
|
privilege |
|
|
| fetch |
|
provide |
|
wail |
| fight |
|
pull |
|
wait |
| file |
|
pump |
|
wake |
| fill |
|
puncture |
|
walk |
| fire |
|
purchase |
|
wall |
| flap |
|
push |
|
wander |
| fleece |
|
|
|
want |
| float |
|
quell |
|
warm |
| flood |
|
|
|
warn |
| flow |
|
race |
|
wash |
| flower |
|
rain |
|
waste |
| fold |
|
raise |
|
water |
| follow |
|
rap |
|
wave |
| fool |
|
razzle-dazzle |
|
weigh |
| foster |
|
reach |
|
welcome |
| frame |
|
record |
|
whimper |
| frighten |
|
recount |
|
whine |
| fund |
|
refrain |
|
whip |
|
|
refund |
|
whirl |
| gather |
|
reject |
|
whisper |
| gawk |
|
relax |
|
whistle |
| gaze |
|
remain |
|
wink |
| glow |
|
remember |
|
wipe |
| glue |
|
remind |
|
wish |
| google |
|
remove |
|
wobble |
| gossip |
|
reply |
|
wonder |
| grab |
|
request |
|
work |
| greet |
|
require |
|
worry |
| grieve |
|
rescue |
|
wrap |
| grin |
|
resign |
|
wreck |
| grip |
|
retail |
|
wrestle |
| groan |
|
retaliate |
|
wriggle |
| groom |
|
right |
|
wow |
| |
|
rob |
|
|
| hammer |
|
rock |
|
x-ray |
| hand |
|
roll |
|
|
| handle |
|
rot |
|
yawn |
| hang |
|
rub |
|
yell |
Many French
infinitives end with -er. Several of their English equivalents
end with "-ate."
Be
careful with these "-ate"
words:
appreciate, calculate, coagulate, compensate, communicate, complicate,
concentrate, decorate, educate, evaluate, exascerbate, exasperate, fluctuate,
hesitate, illustrate, imitate, implicate, indicate, innovate, integrate,
interrogate, irritate, operate, participate, radiate, renovate, salivate,
separate, suffocate, validate
BUT:
"Distribute," not distribuate;
"evolve," not evoluate,
"ferment," not fermentate,
"pollute," not polluate
and "program," not programmate.
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