Beginners learn finir and assume every -ir verb works the same way. Then they meet partir and dormir and everything breaks: je finis but je pars? nous finissons but nous partons? It feels inconsistent. It isn't — there are exactly two kinds of -ir verbs, and a simple theme tells you which one you're holding.
Part of the series French Conjugation Memory Tricks.
Group 1: the finir-type (with -iss-)
These are the regular -ir verbs — the big, predictable group. Their signature is the -iss- that shows up in the plural:
je finis, tu finis, il finit nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent
Endings: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent. Past participle: -i (fini).
Members: finir, choisir, réussir, grandir, obéir, réfléchir, rougir, punir, applaudir, ralentir. If you notice, many are about change or growth (grandir — to grow, rougir — to blush, ralentir — to slow down), which is a loose hint, but the safest rule is: this is the default group. Most -ir verbs are finir-type.
Group 2: the partir-type (drop the consonant)
A smaller, high-frequency group behaves differently. They have no -iss-, and in the singular they drop the final consonant of the stem:
partir (stem part-) → je pars, tu pars, il part nous partons, vous partez, ils partent
Endings: -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent. Watch the singular — je pars, not je partis; the t of part- disappears.
More examples, same pattern (drop the last consonant in je/tu/il):
dormir → je dors (drop m) … nous dormons sortir → je sors (drop t) … nous sortons sentir → je sens (drop t) … nous sentons servir → je sers (drop v) … nous servons mentir → je mens (drop t) … nous mentons
The theme that tells them apart
Here's the memory hook. The partir-type verbs cluster around movement, the body, and the senses:
- partir — to leave
- sortir — to go out
- dormir — to sleep
- sentir — to feel / smell
- servir — to serve
- mentir — to lie
Leaving, going out, sleeping, feeling, serving, lying — they're all physical / bodily actions. So when an -ir verb is about doing something with your body or moving through space, suspect the partir group (drop the consonant, no -iss-). When it's about finishing, choosing, growing, succeeding — the more abstract "completing a process" verbs — it's almost always the regular finir group (with -iss-).
It's not a perfect law, but it's a reliable first guess, and combined with "finir-type is the default," you'll classify new verbs correctly the vast majority of the time.
Quick comparison
| finir-type (regular) | partir-type | |
|---|---|---|
| je / tu | finis / finis | pars / pars |
| il/elle | finit | part |
| nous | finissons | partons |
| vous | finissez | partez |
| ils/elles | finissent | partent |
| Signature | inserts -iss- | drops final consonant |
| Theme | completing / growing | movement / body |
A note on être verbs
Several partir-type verbs (partir, sortir) are also on the DR MRS VANDERTRAMP list — they take être in the passé composé (je suis parti). That's a separate rule (which auxiliary), but it's no accident: movement verbs cluster in both lists, which is why the "movement/body" theme is such a useful tag to attach to a verb the first time you meet it.
Drill plan
- Default to finir-type. Assume -iss- unless the verb is one of the movement/body set.
- Memorize the partir set as a themed group: partir, sortir, dormir, sentir, servir, mentir.
- Watch the singular on partir-type verbs — the dropped consonant (je dors, not je dormis) is the most common mistake.
- Type both groups side by side so the -iss- vs no--iss- contrast stays sharp.
For where these endings sit among all the others, keep the French verb endings cheat sheet open as your reference.
FAQ
What are the two types of -ir verbs in French?
Finir-type (regular -ir) verbs insert -iss- in the plural: nous finissons, ils finissent. Partir-type verbs drop the final stem consonant in the singular: je pars, je dors. Finir-type endings are -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent; partir-type are -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent.
How do I know if an -ir verb is finir-type or partir-type?
The partir group are mostly verbs of movement or the body, leaving, sleeping, going out, feeling, serving (partir, sortir, dormir, sentir, servir, mentir). Most other -ir verbs (finir, choisir, réussir, grandir) are finir-type and take -iss-. When unsure, the -iss- group is the larger, regular default.
Is finir a regular verb in French?
Yes. Finir is the model for the regular second conjugation, the -iss- group. Verbs that follow it (choisir, réussir, finir, grandir, obéir) are fully regular: -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent in the present, and a past participle in -i.
