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When learning French, recognising Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) is very important as it is used in literature and other French writings.
Learn to recognise -ir verbs in Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) in French
Look at these examples:
To conjugate most -ir verbs* in Le Passé Simple (Indicatif), here is what to do:
Stem of the verb (without -IR) + endings: -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent
Possible confusion with -IR verbs following finir conjugation (verbes du 2e groupe)
For these verbs, the je/tu/il/elle/on forms of Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) are exactly the same as for Le Présent (Indicatif).
The context will help you know which tense is intended in those cases.
The context will help you know which tense is intended in those cases.
Other -IR verbs have distinct forms in both tenses.
* The following French -ir verbs (and their derivatives) do not follow this pattern in Le Passé Simple (Indicatif):
venir (to come) / tenir (to hold)
courir (to run)
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