Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson covers three essential irregular French verbs: faire (to do/make), prendre (to take), and dire (to say). Learn their present tense conjugations like je fais, nous prenons, and ils disent, crucial for everyday conversations.
Verbe: FaireVerbe: PrendreVerbe: Dire
Je faisJe prendsJe dis
Tu faisTu prendsTu dis
Il/ Elle/ On faitIl/ Elle/ On prendIl/ Elle/ On dit
Nous faisonsNous prenonsNous disons
Vous faitesVous prenezVous dites
Ils/ Elles fontIls/ Elles prennentIls/ Elles disent

Exceptions!

  1. The first syllable of the verb faire in the second person plural is pronounced /ə/.

Exercise 1: Les verbes irréguliers : "Faire", "Prendre", "Dire"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

fais, disent, prends, prennent, dites, disons, faites, fait

1. Dire :
Vous ... au caissier que vous allez payer en carte bancaire.
(You tell the cashier that you are going to pay by bank card.)
2. Prendre :
Depuis deux mois, je ... des cours à l'université.
(For two months, I have been taking courses at the university.)
3. Faire :
Tu ... une allergie alors tu vas à la pharmacie.
(You are having an allergy so you go to the pharmacy.)
4. Faire :
Toi et ta copine ... du sport au gymnase tous les mardis.
(You and your girlfriend do sport at the gym every Tuesday.)
5. Prendre :
Ils ... la nouvelle carte de la banque.
(They take the new bank card.)
6. Dire :
Nous ... au plombier qu'il y a de l'eau dans la salle de bain.
(We tell the plumber that there is water in the bathroom.)
7. Dire :
Elles ... qu'elles n'aiment pas aller à l'école.
(They say they don't like going to school.)
8. Faire :
Le coiffeur ... les plus belles coiffures de la ville.
(The hairdresser creates the most beautiful hairstyles in the city.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Je ___ mes courses à la pharmacie près de la station essence.

(I ___ my shopping at the pharmacy near the gas station.)

2. Nous ___ le bus pour aller à l'école.

(We ___ the bus to go to school.)

3. Tu ___ souvent où se trouve la bibliothèque.

(You ___ often where the library is located.)

4. Ils ___ du sport au gymnase tous les samedis.

(They ___ sports at the gym every Saturday.)

5. Vous ___ la rue à droite pour trouver la banque.

(You ___ the street to the right to find the bank.)

6. Nous ___ bonjour au plombier quand il arrive.

(We ___ hello to the plumber when he arrives.)

Irregular Verbs: "Faire", "Prendre", "Dire"

This lesson focuses on three important French irregular verbs: faire (to do/make), prendre (to take), and dire (to say/tell). These verbs are essential in everyday French and do not follow the regular conjugation patterns, making them crucial to learn early on.

Conjugation Overview

Each verb is conjugated in the present tense for all subject pronouns:

  • Faire: je fais, tu fais, il/elle/on fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font
  • Prendre: je prends, tu prends, il/elle/on prend, nous prenons, vous prenez, ils/elles prennent
  • Dire: je dis, tu dis, il/elle/on dit, nous disons, vous dites, ils/elles disent

Noticing these forms helps you recognize and use these verbs correctly in conversations or writing.

Pronunciation Highlight

An interesting note is that the first syllable of faire at the vous form (faites) is pronounced /ə/, which is a subtle but important pronunciation detail for learners.

Practical Usage Examples

  • Je fais mes courses à la pharmacie près de la station essence. (I do my shopping at the pharmacy near the gas station.)
  • Nous prenons le bus pour aller à l'école. (We take the bus to go to school.)
  • Tu dis souvent où se trouve la bibliothèque. (You often say where the library is.)
  • Ils font du sport au gymnase tous les samedis. (They do sports at the gym every Saturday.)
  • Vous prenez la rue à droite pour trouver la banque. (You take the street on the right to find the bank.)
  • Nous disons bonjour au plombier quand il arrive. (We say hello to the plumber when he arrives.)

Differences Between English and French

Unlike English, where verbs like "to do", "to take", and "to say" follow simple regular patterns, French irregular verbs require memorization of their unique conjugations. Also, French subject pronouns are used more consistently than in English.

Useful phrases and their English equivalents:

  • Je fais – I do / I make
  • Nous prenons – We take
  • Il dit – He says

Understanding these conjugations and their pronunciation will help learners form correct and natural sentences in French.

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Azéline Perrin

Bachelor Degree in Applied Foreign Languages

Université de Lorraine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 23:24