French grammar
Present -er verbs: travailler, arriver, parler, terminer
Talk about your work day using -er verbs.
From the scene Je travaille dans un bureau (I work in an office)
In short
Regular -er verbs drop -er and add -e for je, -es for tu: je travaille, tu travailles. Both sound the same.
Your turn
Which one goes with I arrive / you arrive?
Options: je parle / tu parles · j'arrive / tu arrives · je travaille / tu travailles
Show answer
I arrive / you arrive → j'arrive / tu arrives
How it works
Regular -er verbs drop -er and add -e for "I" (je) and -es for "you" (tu): travailler → je travaille, tu travailles.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Oui, je (blank) beaucoup le jeudi.
Options: travaillez · travaille · travailles
Show answer
Oui, je travaille beaucoup le jeudi.
Yes, I work a lot on Thursdays.
Good to know
Before a vowel, je becomes j': j'arrive.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) à sept heures.
Clue: Javi is talking about himself
Options: Tu termines · Il termine · Je termine
Show answer
Je termine à sept heures.
I finish at seven.
I work / you work je travaille / tu travailles
Nuria
Javi, salut ! Tu travailles beaucoup aujourd'hui ?
Javi, hi! Are you working a lot today?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Javi, salut ! (blank) beaucoup aujourd'hui ?
Options: Tu arrives · Tu parles · Tu travailles
Show answer
Nuria
Javi, salut ! Tu travailles beaucoup aujourd'hui ?
Javi, hi! Are you working a lot today?
I arrive / you arrive j'arrive / tu arrives
Javi
J'arrive à neuf heures.
I arrive at nine.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) à neuf heures.
Options: Tu parles · J'arrive · Tu travailles
Show answer
Javi
J'arrive à neuf heures.
I arrive at nine.
I talk / you talk je parle / tu parles
Javi
Oui, je parle aux clients toute la journée.
Yes, I talk to clients all day.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oui, (blank) aux clients toute la journée.
Options: tu arrives · je parle · tu travailles
Show answer
Javi
Oui, je parle aux clients toute la journée.
Yes, I talk to clients all day.
I finish / you finish je termine / tu termines
Nuria
Tu termines à quelle heure ?
What time do you finish?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) à quelle heure ?
Options: Tu travailles · Tu arrives · Tu termines
Show answer
Nuria
Tu termines à quelle heure ?
What time do you finish?
Watch out
-e and -es sound exactly the same — the -s only shows in writing.
Common mistake
Not Tu arrives or Il arrive here. Javi is talking about himself.
J'arrive à neuf heures.
I arrive at nine.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I work / you work | je travaille / tu travailles |
|---|---|
| I arrive / you arrive | j'arrive / tu arrives |
| I talk / you talk | je parle / tu parles |
| I finish / you finish | je termine / tu termines |
More lines from the story
- JaviOui, je travaille beaucoup le jeudi.Yes, I work a lot on Thursdays.
- JaviJe termine à sept heures.I finish at seven.