Verbs like partir: irregular -ir in the present
-IR verbs — Shortening Stem (The Partir Model)
Some third-group verbs ending in -ir follow a distinctive pattern:
-
Their stem becomes shorter in the singular forms.
-
They do NOT use the -iss- pattern.
The Main Rule
👉 The stem loses its final consonant in singular forms. 👉 The full stem returns in plural forms.
Pattern:
Singular (je, tu, il/elle/on): shortened stem
Plural (nous, vous, ils/elles): full stem
Model Verb: PARTIR (to leave)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | pars |
| tu | pars |
| il / elle / on | part |
| nous | partons |
| vous | partez |
| ils / elles | partent |
👉 Notice:
- “t” disappears in the singular stem
- It returns in plural forms
Other Common Verbs in This Pattern
SORTIR (to go out)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | sors |
| tu | sors |
| il / elle / on | sort |
| nous | sortons |
| vous | sortez |
| ils / elles | sortent |
DORMIR (to sleep)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | dors |
| tu | dors |
| il / elle / on | dort |
| nous | dormons |
| vous | dormez |
| ils / elles | dorment |
Key Takeaways
- Some -ir verbs shorten their stem in the singular.
- The full stem returns in plural forms.
- They do NOT use the -iss- pattern.
- Common examples: partir, sortir, dormir.
- Checking the present participle helps identify the group quickly.
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