All verbs

/ɛme/to likeA1

Family
Group 1 — regular `-er`
Takes
a direct object — Takes a direct object with the full article, or a bare infinitive

Build map — what to memorise

These three pieces are learnt; every other tense is built from them.

The nous form
aimons
Presentprésentfollows the rule

Singular — the short stem

aim-+-e -es -e

Presentprésentfollows the rule

Plural — the nous stem

aim-+-ons -ez -ent

Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

aim-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

aim-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

aim-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
aimer
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

aimer-+-ai -as -a -ons -ez -ont

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

aimer-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

aimer

Past participle
aimé

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

aimé

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

aimé

Conjugation

présent
Ij'aime/ʒɛm/I like
youtu aimes/ty ɛm/you like
he/sheil aime/il ɛm/he likes
wenous aimons/nuz ɛmɔ̃/we like
youvous aimez/vuz ɛme/you like
theyils aiment/ilz ɛm/they like

Examples

  • J'aime la musique.

    /ʒɛm la my.zik/

    I like music.

  • J'aime lire.

    /ʒɛm liʁ/

    I like reading.

  • Nous aimons le café.

    /nu.z‿ɛ.mɔ̃ lə ka.fe/

    We like coffee.

Set phrases

  • aimer bien

    to quite like

  • j'aimerais

    I would like

Notes

  • aimer bien is WEAKER than aimer, not stronger. Je t'aime is a declaration of love; Je t'aime bien means "I like you" and is what you say to a friend. Adding "well" softens it — the opposite of the English instinct.

  • Always the full article, never the partitive: J'aime le café, not du café. See de-trois-kar.