Present Tense (Le Présent) of Regular -ER Verbs
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Lesson overview
Conjugating the largest group of French verbs in the present tense.
Go to lesson quiz →Exam guidance · WAEC WASSCE Paper 1 + Paper 2 Lens
Pacing
Objective speed on Paper 1 + structured step-by-step method marks on Paper 2 Theory/Practical.
How WAEC marks this
Examiners award method marks (M1) for stating the formula/definition and accuracy marks (A1) ONLY when SI units are written.
Watch out for
Writing bare numbers without working or omitting SI units loses up to 50% of Paper 2 marks even when the final value is right.
Lesson content
Overview — Present Tense (Le Présent) of Regular -ER Verbs
Conjugating the largest group of French verbs in the present tense. This lesson is at the beginner level — by the end, you'll be able to recognise this question type, apply a reliable method, and avoid the traps that cost marks.
Key Concept
Regular -ER verbs (the largest group of French verbs, such as 'parler' — to speak) are conjugated in the present tense by removing the '-er' ending and adding: -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent for je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles respectively.
Why It's Tested This Way
WAEC/JAMB test -ER verb conjugation because it is the single most common and predictable verb pattern in French, and mastering it provides the template most subject-verb agreement questions on the exam are built around.
Method
When answering, be ready to conjugate a regular -ER verb correctly across all six persons (je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles), since WAEC frequently tests fill-in-the-blank questions requiring the correct ending for a specific subject pronoun.
Worked Example
Worked example: Conjugating 'parler' (to speak): je parle, tu parles, il/elle parle, nous parlons, vous parlez, ils/elles parlent — note that je, tu, il/elle, and ils/elles all sound similar when spoken but are spelled distinctly.
Second Worked Example
Second worked example: Conjugating 'aimer' (to like/love) follows the identical pattern: j'aime, tu aimes, il/elle aime, nous aimons, vous aimez, ils/elles aiment — 'je' contracts to 'j'' before a vowel sound, a spelling detail WAEC tests directly.
Common Traps
Common trap: using the same ending for every person (a common beginner error, such as writing 'nous parle' instead of 'nous parlons') — WAEC specifically tests that each of the six persons has its own distinct ending, not one ending applied universally.
Lesson Summary
Remember: (1) identify what is being asked, (2) apply the WAEC strategy, (3) check against the traps. Complete the 10-question quiz below to unlock the next lesson — you need at least 60% to pass.
Mastery Check · Lesson Quiz · pass 60%
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