Regular -IR Verbs: finir, choisir, réussir
Learn the deuxième groupe (second group) of regular French verbs (-IR verbs, finir pattern) with their -iss- plural stem.
French verbs fall into three groups: the premier groupe (-ER, already learned) and the deuxième groupe (-IR) are both regular and predictable; the troisième groupe is everything else — French's large, mostly irregular catch-all group (including -RE verbs like vendre, plus être, avoir, faire, aller). The deuxième groupe uses -iss- in all plural forms. This is the pattern for finir (to finish), choisir (to choose), réussir (to succeed), grandir (to grow), and many others.
REGULAR -IR VERBS: the deuxième groupe (second group), model: FINIR (to finish)
FORMATION: remove -IR → stem FIN-, then add endings
SINGULAR: -is / -is / -it: je finis (I finish), tu finis (you finish), il/elle/on finit (he/she/one finishes): all three sound IDENTICAL. The final T is always silent
PLURAL: add -ISS- before the endings, the defining feature of regular -IR verbs: nous finissons (we finish), vous finissez (you finish), ils/elles finissent (they finish)
THE -ISS- MARKER: if a verb has -iss- in nous/vous/ils forms, it is a regular -IR verb. If it lacks -iss- (like partir, dormir, sortir), it conjugates differently: memorize those separately
Common mistake: forgetting the -iss- in the plural: 'nous finons' does not exist. Correct form: nous finissons (we finish)
- Je finis mon travail à 17h. — I finish work at 5 pm.
- Nous choisissons le menu du jour. — We choose the set menu.
- Elle réussit toujours ses examens. — She always passes her exams.
- Vous grandissez vite ! — You are growing fast!