Key learning points

1. Adjectives often change their spelling for feminine and plural forms. Those ending in -e do not change in the feminine.
2. Adjectives beau, nouveau and vieux have feminine forms: belle, nouvelle and vieille. Beau and nouveau add -x in plural.
3. Many -ir verbs in the present follow the pattern of choisir: remove -ir and add -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent.
4. Many -ir verbs follow the pattern of 'partir': remove -(t)ir and add: -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez, -ent.
5. The sounds [i] like 'midi', [s/ss] like 'saucisse' and [r] like 'rue' are common in verbs like 'choisir' and 'partir'.

Keywords

• Adjective - a word that describes and usually agrees in number and gender with a noun or pronoun

• Choisir - an example of a common group of -ir verbs, meaning ‘to choose’

• Partir - an example of a common group of -ir verbs, meaning ‘to leave’

Common misconception