What is a French 're' verb?

Answer 1

Most French verbs that end with "re" (like répondre, which means "to answer") are conjugated by replacing that "re" with the appropriate suffix according to the phrase's subject:

Je réponds

Tu réponds

Il/Elle/On répond

Nous répondons

Vous répondez

Ils/Elles répondent

Notice that you add nothing after the Il/Elle/On form of the verb.

The following are some other French "re" verbs that follow the same pattern:

1. attendre - to wait for
2. perdre - to lose
3. tondre - to mow
4. vendre - to sell

Use a French "re" verb in past tense by replacing the ending "re" with a "u."

For example, Il a répondu à sa lettre. - He answered his letter.

The most significant irregular "re" verb is être (to be). It's conjugation:

• Je suis
• Tu es
• Il/Elle/On est
• Nous sommes
• Vous êtes
• Ils/Elles sont

The reason this verb's important is because there are a few French verbs (such as aller) that are used in past tense with the helping verb être instead of with avoir.

For example:

Je suis allé au café. - I went to the café.

Elles sont allé au stade hier. - They went to the stadium yesterday.

The verb prendre (to take, to have food or drink) follows the same pattern for regular "re" verbs but with a few differences:

• Je prends
• Tu prends
• Il/Elle/On prend
• Nous prenons
• Vous prenez
• Ils/Elles prennent

The only conjugation difference: drop the "d" for the Nous, Vous, and Ils/Elles forms of this verb.

The past participle of prendre is pris:

Ils ont pris un taxi. - They took a taxi.

Mettre (to put on, to wear) also follows a similar pattern but with a few differences:

• Je mets
• Tu mets
• Il/Elle/On met
• Nous mettons
• Vous mettez
• Ils/Elles mettent

The only conjugation difference: also remove the "t" when you replace the "re" with the appropriate ending for the Je, Tu, and Il/Elle/On forms of this verb.

The past participle of mettre is mis:

Elle a mis une jupe. - She wore a skirt.

Faire (to do, to make) is a special "re" verb; it has its own distinctive pattern:

• Je fais
• Tu fais
• Il/Elle/On fait
• Nous faisons
• Vous faites
• Ils/Elles font

The past participle of faire is fait:

J'ai fait mes devoirs. - I did my homework.

Answer 2

A French "re" verb is a regular verb that ends in "re" in its infinitive form. Examples include "vendre" (to sell), "attendre" (to wait), and "répondre" (to answer). These verbs follow specific conjugation patterns in different tenses and moods.