10 Tips to Master French Conjugations Effortlessly
Nicole Baptista
Conjugating verbs is undoubtedly one of the least fun parts of learning French. In fact, it is usually one of the areas most French learners struggle with on their language learning journeys. One of the reasons for this is that there are so many different tenses in French, and many verbs are irregular so they follow different rules. Things can get quite confusing!
However, so that you don’t become totally discouraged, we have put together 10 top tips to help you master French conjugations without pain. Take a look.
1. Use Conjugation apps
Of course, there are now apps for French conjugations so you can download them on your phone. With a conjugation app, all you have to do is type in any verb and you will get that verb conjugated in every tense. You carry your phone with you everywhere so you will always have access to it. Here are just a few:
2. Use the good old traditional method: Write everything down
Technology has made language learning a lot easier in many ways. But this doesn’t mean we should just completely discard traditional learning methods. Writing things down is still one of the best ways to memorize verb conjugations.
I used to choose a random verb and then write down all its different verb forms on a sheet of paper. I would do this as many times until I remembered the conjugations completely. You can use colors and highlighters to help you memorize the verb endings more easily. Repetition is key!
3. Really focus on the irregular verbs
This is so important because some of the irregular verbs in French are also the most frequently used. For example: ‘aller’ and ‘être’ and ‘pouvoir’. Take extra time learning these because they are the ones people tend to trip up on!
4. Purchase a Bescherelle conjugation book
One of the most useful things you can buy is a Bescherelle conjugation book. This book contains every verb in French completely conjugated. I used this book so much when I was learning French.
Use it as a reference book; as a way to refresh your memory when you have forgotten how to conjugate a verb into a specific tense. Sometimes I would open the book on a random page and test myself by conjugating whatever verb came up aloud (without looking at the page).
5. Learn French conjugations in context
Rather than just learning conjugations from verb tables, why not learn them with some context? For this you will need to immerse yourself in French culture: Watch movies, speak with a French person, read books and blogs in French. Notice how the verbs are being used and see if you can tell which tense it is in. It is much easier to remember a verb when it is used in a sentence with context rather than on its own in a verb table.
6. Record yourself saying verb conjugations
With your mobile phone, you can record yourself saying different verb conjugations out loud. Then you can play the voicenote back to yourself as many times as needed. It has been scientifically proven that listening is one of the best ways to remember facts and information. Use this to your advantage!
7. Follow Instagram accounts that regularly post conjugations
If you regularly use Instagram, following some French learning accounts that post verb conjugations could be a good way to get your daily dose of grammar. Because the information is in smaller chunks, you may find them easier to remember. Here are just some accounts that offer this:
8. Make sure to change the order of the verbs as you memorize them
This is a very easy trap to fall into. When we look at verb tables online or in textbooks they usually follow a certain order : je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous … So, try to learn your verb tables in random order to make sure you are actually memorizing them for their correct endings rather than by the order you have learnt them! This might save you from making mistakes in the future.
9. Practice French conjugations with a friend or a learning partner
Learning with another person is one of the most effective ways of remembering information. Do you have a friend who speaks French or is also learning French? Why not practice with them? You can test and teach one another. This may be a good option if you feel too shy to work with a tutor/ teacher. You may feel more at ease with a friend.
10. Work with a tutor
If you find that you are still struggling with mastering French conjugations, it may be a good time to start working with a one to one tutor. They can guide you with their experience and focus specifically on conjugating verbs with you. You can get this support at French à La Carte.
French à La Carte is specialized in lessons one on one basis in Paris or online. Learning French verbs & conjugations is part of the learning program we offer.