The present indicative of -ir verbs: 2nd group

What you’re learning: “-ir” (2nd group) verbs in the present

Verbs like finir (to finish) and choisir (to choose) follow a very regular pattern in the present tense.

• Infinitive ends in -ir
• The present tense uses the endings: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent
• The stem is stable: fin-, chois-

Build it step by step (fast method)

1. Take off -ir: finir → fin-, choisir → chois-
2. Add the ending for the subject:

Pronunciation: what you see is not always what you hear

• Final -s and -t are usually silent:

Important listening tip: je/tu/il forms often sound the same. The subject pronoun tells you who does the action.

The “nous” form: the one spelling change to notice

Many learners expect nous finons or nous choisons.

The correct pattern is:

• nous + -issons → nous finissons, nous choisissons

Visual cue: if the infinitive is -ir (2nd group), the -iss- appears in nous / vous / ils-elles.

Quick self-check: choose the right ending

• Je / Tu → almost always -is (je choisis, tu finis)
• Il / Elle / On → -it (elle choisit, on finit)
• Nous → -issons
• Vous → -issez
• Ils / Elles → -issent

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Mixing up singular and plural:
  • ils/elles: finissent (not finissez)
  • vous: choisissez (not choisissent)
• Forgetting -ss- in plural forms:
  • nous finissons / vous finissez / ils finissent (not finisons)
• Pronouncing the final letters -s / -t:
  • Say “fini”, not “finiss” for je finis.

What you can do now (real-life use)

• Talk about choices: Je choisis…, Nous choisissons…
• Talk about finishing: Tu finis…, Ils finissent…

If you can do the two steps (remove -ir + add the ending), you can conjugate most 2nd-group “-ir” verbs at A1 level.