In this lesson and many others, one of the sub-sections is titled "Pronounciation guide", however, the correct spelling should be "Pronunciation guide" (in American English, as well). Kindly correct this (and everywhere, if you can).
Have a look at how regular verbs ending in -dre conjugate in Présent indicatif :
| new ending | vendre (to sell) | mordre (to bite) | |
| Je | -s | Je vends | Je mords |
| Tu | -s | Tu vends | Tu mords |
| Il/elle/on | - | Il/elle/on vend | Il/elle/on mord |
| Nous | -ons | Nous vendons | Nous mordons |
| Vous | -ez | Vous vendez | Vous mordez |
| Ils/elles | -ent | Ils/elles vendent | Ils/elles mordent |
To conjugate -dre verbs in Présent indicatif, remember to :
- Remove the -re ending to the infinitive form
- Add the correct endings
Listen to these -dre verbs :
Je vends ma vieille console.
I'm selling my old console.
Tu vends des DVDs.
You sell DVDs.
Il vend sa voiture.
He's selling his car.
Est-ce que vous vendez des adaptateurs internationaux ?
Do you sell international adapters?
Nous vendons un peu de tout.
We sell a bit of everything.
Elles vendent leurs légumes sur le marché.
They sell their vegetables on the market.
Pronunciation guide
Note the three singular forms endings (-ds / -ds / -d) are silent.
Therefore, all three forms of a same verb are pronounced the same.
Note also that the -ent ending for ils/elles is also silent. However, you will pronounce the [d] at the end.
-> Here are more examples for you to hear the difference:
Je réponds au téléphone.
I answer the phone.
Tu entends cette musique?
Do you hear that music?
Il descend au sous-sol.
He's going down to the basement.
Nous le rendons.
We're giving it back.
Grammar jargon
The infinitive of the verb is the unconjugated verb - jouer (to play) - as opposed to a conjugated form - je joue (I play)
The stem of the infinitive is the part before the -er, -ir, or -re ending.
ATTENTION:
Here is a list of the main irregular -dre verbs that don't follow this pattern:
- prendre Conjugate prendre and derivatives in Le Présent (present tense)
- coudre Conjugate coudre in Le Présent (present tense)
- peindre / craindre / joindre Conjugate verbs in -aindre, -eindre, -oindre in Le Présent (present tense)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
J'attends le train.
I'm waiting for the train.
Tu entends cette musique?
Do you hear that music?
Nous vendons un peu de tout.
We sell a bit of everything.
Tu vends des DVDs.
You sell DVDs.
Est-ce que vous vendez des adaptateurs internationaux ?
Do you sell international adapters?
Vous attendez le docteur ?
Are you waiting for the doctor?
Nous le rendons.
We're giving it back.
Elles vendent leurs légumes sur le marché.
They sell their vegetables on the market.
Mes chiens ne mordent jamais.
My dogs never bite.
Je réponds au téléphone.
I answer the phone.
Il vend sa voiture.
He's selling his car.
Il descend au sous-sol.
He's going down to the basement.
Je vends ma vieille console.
I'm selling my old console.
Q&A Forum 4 questions, 6 answers
ParitoshKwiziq community member
The correct spelling is "Pronunciation guide".
Asked 4 months ago
Hi Paritosh,
Thanks for flagging this up, it has now been corrected!
Paritosh asked:View original
The correct spelling is "Pronunciation guide".
In this lesson and many others, one of the sub-sections is titled "Pronounciation guide", however, the correct spelling should be "Pronunciation guide" (in American English, as well). Kindly correct this (and everywhere, if you can).
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ClaudiaKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Salut a tous
In the listening: Est-que vous vendez des adaptateurs internationaux
Vendez sounds strange.
Asked 9 months ago
Bonjour Claudia !
The audio has now been fixed :)
Merci et bonne journée !
Claudia asked:View original
Salut a tous
In the listening: Est-que vous vendez des adaptateurs internationaux
Vendez sounds strange.
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ReneKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
L'ancienne pronociation
Je suis curieux. Savez-vous si le "ds" et le "d" se prononçait auparavant, dans l'ancienne pronociation française ?
Asked 1 year ago
Rene asked:View original
L'ancienne pronociation
Je suis curieux. Savez-vous si le "ds" et le "d" se prononçait auparavant, dans l'ancienne pronociation française ?
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OliviaKwiziq community member
Why was the translation of On attend le bus, We wait for the bus and not One waits for the bus?
Asked 1 year ago
Hi Olivia,
the French "on" is very commonly used to mean "we" in spoken French. So much so that it is often more frequently used than the proper "nous", particularly in colloquial French.
In the sentence you quote, one would, strictly speaking, need more context to make a definitive decision.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Olivia asked:View original
Why was the translation of On attend le bus, We wait for the bus and not One waits for the bus?
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