Third-group odd verbs: boire, plaire, résoudre, peindre…
Third Group — The "Odd Ones Out" (Miscellaneous Irregulars)
After learning the major patterns (-IR, -DRE, -OIR, -AÎTRE), you will encounter a handful of verbs that don't quite fit into large families. They are the "rebels" of the third group.
Don't panic: You don't need to master all of these perfectly at once. Focus on recognizing them first, especially high-frequency verbs like boire, plaire, or conclure.
1. BOIRE (To drink)
This verb is unique because its stem changes significantly between the singular and the plural forms, and even within the plural.
- Particularity: The stem shifts from boi- to boiv- only for the "ils/elles" form.
- Related verbs: Reboire (to drink again).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | bois |
| tu | bois |
| il / elle / on | boit |
| nous | buvons |
| vous | buvez |
| ils / elles | boivent |
2. VAINCRE (To defeat/conquer)
A rare case where the spelling changes to maintain the hard "k" sound.
- Particularity: The c changes to qu in the plural forms.
- Related verbs: Convaincre (to convince).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | vaincs |
| tu | vaincs |
| il / elle / on | vainc |
| nous | vainquons |
| vous | vainquez |
| ils / elles | vainquent |
3. PLAIRE (To please)
Similar to the Connaître model, but with its own twist.
- Particularity: An accent circonflexe appears on the î only in the il/elle/on form.
- Related verbs: Déplaire (to displease), taire (to keep quiet / to silence).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | plais |
| tu | plais |
| il / elle / on | plaît |
| nous | plaisons |
| vous | plaisez |
| ils / elles | plaisent |
4. TRAIRE (To milk)
These verbs are mostly used in specific or figurative contexts.
- Particularity: The i changes to y when followed by a vowel in the plural forms.
- Related verbs: Distraire (to distract), extraire (to extract), soustraire (to subtract).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | trais |
| tu | trais |
| il / elle / on | trait |
| nous | trayons |
| vous | trayez |
| ils / elles | traient |
5. RÉSOUDRE (To solve)
A very irregular stem change that looks nothing like the infinitive in the plural.
- Particularity: The -dre disappears and turns into -lv- in the plural.
- Related verbs: Dissoudre (to dissolve), absoudre (to absolve).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | résous |
| tu | résous |
| il / elle / on | résout |
| nous | résolvons |
| vous | résolvez |
| ils / elles | résolvent |
6. COUDRE (To sew)
Be careful not to confuse this one with résoudre or moudre.
- Particularity: The d changes to s in the plural forms.
- Related verbs: Découdre (to unpick/unsew), recoudre (to sew back).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | couds |
| tu | couds |
| il / elle / on | coud |
| nous | cousons |
| vous | cousez |
| ils / elles | cousent |
7. MOUDRE (To grind)
Often used for coffee or wheat.
- Particularity: The d changes to l in the plural forms.
- Related verbs: Remoudre (to grind again).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | mouds |
| tu | mouds |
| il / elle / on | moud |
| nous | moulons |
| vous | moulez |
| ils / elles | moulent |
8. CROÎTRE (To grow)
This verb uses accents to distinguish itself from the verb croire (to believe).
- Particularity: It keeps the accent circonflexe on the û/î in almost all singular forms to avoid confusion.
- Related verbs: Accroître (to increase), décroître (to decrease).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | croîs |
| tu | croîs |
| il / elle / on | croît |
| nous | croissons |
| vous | croissez |
| ils / elles | croissent |
9. FUIR (To flee/run away)
A simple shift that occurs in many French verbs ending in -uyer or -uire.
- Particularity: The i becomes a y in the nous and vous forms.
- Related verbs: S'enfuir (to run away).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | fuis |
| tu | fuis |
| il / elle / on | fuit |
| nous | fuyons |
| vous | fuyez |
| ils / elles | fuient |
10. ROMPRE (To break)
One of the very few verbs where the third person singular ends in t instead of just dropping the root letter.
- Particularity: Unlike other -RE verbs, it keeps a t after the p in the il/elle/on form (rompt).
- Related verbs: Corrompre (to corrupt), interrompre (to interrupt).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | romps |
| tu | romps |
| il / elle / on | rompt |
| nous | rompons |
| vous | rompez |
| ils / elles | rompent |
11. CONCLURE (To conclude)
This verb is actually quite "regular" for an irregular verb, but it belongs to a tiny family.
- Particularity: It keeps the u throughout the conjugation and uses standard endings.
- Related verbs: Inclure (to include), exclure (to exclude).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | conclus |
| tu | conclus |
| il / elle / on | conclut |
| nous | concluons |
| vous | concluez |
| ils / elles | concluent |
12. PEINDRE (To paint)
This is the model for all verbs ending in -indre.
- Particularity: The n turns into gn (the "ny" sound) in all plural forms.
- Related verbs: Éteindre (to turn off), craindre (to fear), joindre (to join).
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | peins |
| tu | peins |
| il / elle / on | peint |
| nous | peignons |
| vous | peignez |
| ils / elles | peignent |
Important Note 1
Most irregular changes in French follow a visual pattern on the conjugation table called The Boot.
Inside the boot (Je, Tu, Il, Ils): These forms usually share the same "irregular" or "short" stem.
Outside the boot (Nous, Vous): These forms are almost always more regular and follow the infinitive more closely.
Important Note 2
If you’re stuck, always try to remember the nous form first. In French, the nous form is the "key" that unlocks the plural stem.
Once you know it’s nous buvons, you automatically know it’s vous buvez.
Once you know it’s nous peignons, you know the stem for the whole plural side is peign-.
Key Takeaways for the "Odd Ones Out"
- The Plural Reveal: When in doubt, look at the plural forms. They often reveal the "true" hidden stem of the verb (like the gn in peindre or the lv in résoudre).
- The Power of "Nous": If you can remember the nous form, you can usually figure out the rest of the plural (vous/ils).
- Visual Patterns: Many of these changes (like i → y or c → qu) exist solely to preserve the correct pronunciation of the verb.
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
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