All verbs

/sɛʁviʁ/to serveA2

Family
Family 2 — two-stem `-ir`
Takes
a direct object — Takes a direct object; à for what something is used for; de for what it acts as

Build map — what to memorise

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

The nous form
servons
Presentprésentfollows the rule

Singular — the short stem

ser-+-s -s -t

Presentprésentfollows the rule

Plural — the nous stem

serv-+-ons -ez -ent

Imperfectimparfaitfollows the rule

serv-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Present participleparticipe-présentfollows the rule

serv-+-ant

Subjunctivesubjonctif-présentfollows the rule

Built on ils; nous and vous are the imparfait forms

serv-+-e -es -e -ent

Infinitive
servir
Simple futurefutur-simplefollows the rule

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

Conditionalconditionnel-présentfollows the rule

Futur stem + imparfait endings

servir-+-ais -ais -ait -ions -iez -aient

Near futurefutur-prochefollows the rule

aller + infinitive

servir

Past participle
servi

Takes avoir

Passé composépassé-composéfollows the rule

avoir (present) + past participle

servi

Pluperfectplus-que-parfaitfollows the rule

Auxiliary in the imparfait + past participle

servi

Conjugation

présent
Ije sers/ʒə sɛʁ/I serve
youtu sers/ty sɛʁ/you serve
he/sheil sert/il sɛʁ/he serves
wenous servons/nu sɛʁvɔ̃/we serve
youvous servez/vu sɛʁve/you serve
theyils servent/il sɛʁv/they serve

Examples

  • Le serveur sert le café.

    /lə sɛʁ.vœʁ sɛʁ lə ka.fe/

    The waiter serves the coffee.

  • Nous servons le dîner à huit heures.

    /nu sɛʁ.vɔ̃ lə di.ne a ɥit œʁ/

    We serve dinner at eight.

  • Que servez-vous ?

    /kə sɛʁ.ve.vu/

    What are you serving?

Notes

  • servir à is what something is FOR: Ça sert à quoi ? — what's that for? An extremely common question.

  • se servir de means to use: Je me sers de mon téléphone.

  • Two stems: je sers but nous servons.