Mastering French conjugation is an essential step in acquiring proficiency in the language. While the system includes numerous rules, verb groups, and irregularities, effective learning does not require memorising all forms at once. By prioritising high-frequency verbs, practising within clear patterns, and applying forms in meaningful contexts, learners can build a solid foundation.
This guide outlines structured methods to approach French conjugation systematically, ensuring both accuracy and practical use.
Best ways to learn French Conjugation – At a Glance
The best way to learn French conjugation is to start with high-frequency verbs, practise them with pronouns, and reinforce them through listening and speaking. Mix regular and irregular verbs early, use spaced repetition or flashcards, and practise in real contexts (affirmative, negative, questions).
Focus on usage in everyday sentences rather than memorising charts; conversation and audio practice make conjugations stick.
| Method | How It Helps | Example/Tool | Best For |
| Learn verbs by frequency | Focus on the most commonly used verbs first so you can use them in daily speech quickly. | Top 20 verbs: être, avoir, aller, faire, pouvoir, vouloir… | Beginners |
| Practice conjugation groups | Regular verbs (-er, -ir, -re) follow predictable patterns, making memorisation easier. | -er verbs: parler → je parle, tu parles | All levels |
| Flashcards & spaced repetition | Builds long-term memory of verb forms. | Anki decks with verb conjugations | Self-study learners |
| Contextual learning | See verbs used in real sentences, making forms easier to remember. | Read short stories, dialogues, or news articles | Intermediate learners |
| Speaking practice | Conjugation becomes natural when you use it in conversation. | Language exchanges, online tutors | Learners who need fluency |
| Learn irregular verbs separately | Irregular verbs don’t follow rules, so they need special focus. | être, avoir, faire, aller | All learners |
Step 1: Start with High-Frequency Verbs
Begin with the verbs you’ll use every single day. These include –
- Être (to be)
- Avoir (to have)
- Aller (to go)
- Faire (to do/make)
- Pouvoir (can, to be able to)
- Vouloir (to want)
- Prendre (to take)
- Dire (to say/tell)
- Voir (to see)
These “power verbs” unlock hundreds of useful sentences. Once you master them, you can already express needs, describe situations, and handle basic conversations without knowing hundreds of other verbs.
Tip: Write 5 sentences a day using just these verbs – you’ll cover a huge part of daily French.
Step 2: Immerse with Audio & Pronunciation Practice
French conjugations don’t always look like they sound. For example:
- je parle
- tu parles
- il parle
- ils parlent
All sound like “parl”. If you only memorise with your eyes, you’ll risk overpronouncing silent letters.
What to do:
- Listen daily to French podcasts, songs, or YouTube lessons.
- Shadow (repeat immediately after) what you hear.
- Record yourself and compare with the native speaker.
Training your ear early ensures you don’t develop “reading-based mistakes” that are harder to unlearn later.
Step 3: Always Learn with Pronouns
Memorise verbs as full chunks with their pronouns:
- je mange
- tu manges
- nous mangeons
This strengthens memory because you’re tying the form to the subject, not just to an abstract ending.
It also helps you naturally pick up liaison (linking sounds) and elision (dropping vowels):
- onZE mange (not “onz mange”)
- j’aime (not “je aime”).
Learning pronouns and verbs together prevents robotic, textbook-sounding French.
Step 4: Mix Regular & Irregular from Day One
It’s tempting to stick with simpler verbs at first, but you’ll quickly get frustrated when real conversations are full of irregular verbs like aller, faire, venir, and vouloir.
Why mix them early?
- Regular verbs give you confidence with patterns.
- Irregular verbs give you survival skills in real conversations.
Balance tip: For every 2–3 regular verbs, throw in 1 irregular verb to practice.
Step 5: Drill Randomly, Not Sequentially
Most books teach verbs in order: je → tu → il/elle → nous → vous → ils/elles. That’s fine for learning the pattern, but real conversations don’t follow that order. Someone might suddenly ask “Tu fais?” or “Ils vont?”—and you need to respond without running through the whole list in your head.
A better way is to mix it up:
- Please shuffle the pronouns and quiz yourself: “What’s nous prendre?” → nous prenons.
- Ask out loud: “What’s il faire?” → il fait.
- Use flashcards or apps that randomise forms.
This way, you stop reciting and start recalling—exactly how you’ll need to use verbs in real life.
Step 6: Practise Affirmative, Negative & Questions
Conjugation practice shouldn’t be only about “I speak” (affirmative). Every day conversation constantly switches between positives, negatives, and questions:
- Affirmative: Je parle (I speak)
- Negative: Je ne parle pas (I don’t speak)
- Question: Parlez-vous ? (Do you speak?)
- Negative question: Ne parlez-vous pas ? (Don’t you speak?)
Tip: Make mini-drills for each verb: one affirmative, one negative, one question. This way, you train for real conversations, not just grammar tests.
Step 7: Use Real Contexts Immediately
Grammar sticks best when it’s tied to real-life use. Don’t just write conjugations on a page – use them in situations you care about:
- Ordering: Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît.
- Asking directions:Où allez-vous ?
- Making plans: Nous faisons une promenade demain.
Real contexts help verbs stick far better than isolated sentences. A private French lesson can give you even more of this real-world practice, focusing on the situations you care about most.
How FAYLI Puts This into Practice
French As You Like It embodies these principles wonderfully through tailored, conversational learning.
- They teach core high-use verbs and grammar via small group classes (max 7 students), ensuring plenty of spoken practice.
- Lessons are split into grammar, comprehension, and conversation, using authentic materials like videos, games, and articles—great for context-based learning.
- Daily or weekly evaluations come with personalised resources and optional homework, supporting continuous improvement.
- Their instructors are experienced, adaptive, and create a safe space for speaking risks—ideal for practising tricky verb forms.
- They offer both online and in-person lessons, giving you flexibility with virtual classes.
- Plus: cultural activities like cooking, wine tasting, photography, or perfume workshops—so you conjugate in real-world contexts, not textbooks.
Conclusion
The best way to learn French conjugations? Use them. Focus on high-frequency verbs, pair them with pronouns, train with audio, mix regular and irregular forms, practise in random order, include all sentence types, and immerse yourself fully. Supported by tailored lessons—like those offered by French As You Like It—you’ll move from memorisation to conversation with confidence.