Conjugation Of The French Verb Faire

Mastering the French Verb "Faire": A Comprehensive Conjugation Guide

The French verb faire (to do/to make) is one of the most common and versatile verbs in the language. Understanding its conjugations is crucial for fluency. This comprehensive guide will explore the various tenses and moods of faire, providing clear explanations and examples to help you master this essential verb. We'll delve into the present, past, future, conditional, subjunctive, and imperative moods, offering a complete picture of faire's conjugation. By the end, you'll be confident using faire in a wide range of contexts.

Introduction to the Verb "Faire"

Faire is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugations don't follow the standard patterns of regular verbs. This irregularity, however, is systematic and learnable. Its numerous uses range from simple actions like "to do" homework (faire ses devoirs) to more complex expressions like "to make" a cake (faire un gâteau) or even idiomatic uses like "to make someone laugh" (faire rire quelqu'un). Understanding its nuances is vital for achieving a high level of French proficiency.

Present Tense Conjugation of Faire

The present tense ( présent) describes actions happening now or habitual actions. Here's the conjugation of faire in the present tense:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	Translation
Je	fais	Je fais mes devoirs.	I do my homework.
Tu	fais	Tu fais du sport.	You do sports.
Il/Elle/On	fait	Il fait beau aujourd'hui.	It's nice weather today.
Nous	faisons	Nous faisons un gâteau.	We are making a cake.
Vous	faites	Vous faites du bon travail.	You are doing good work.
Ils/Elles	font	Ils font leurs courses.	They are doing their shopping.

Note: The "on" pronoun (one/we) uses the same conjugation as il/elle.

Past Tense Conjugation of Faire: Passé Composé and Imparfait

French uses two main past tenses: the passé composé (compound past) and the imparfait (imperfect).

Passé Composé: This tense is used for completed actions in the past. It's formed with the auxiliary verb avoir (to have) conjugated in the present tense, followed by the past participle fait.

Pronoun	Avoir (Present)	Fait	Example Sentence	Translation
Je	ai	fait	J'ai fait mes devoirs.	I did my homework.
Tu	as	fait	Tu as fait du sport.	You did sports.
Il/Elle/On	a	fait	Il a fait beau hier.	It was nice weather yesterday.
Nous	avons	fait	Nous avons fait un gâteau.	We made a cake.
Vous	avez	fait	Vous avez fait du bon travail.	You did good work.
Ils/Elles	ont	fait	Ils ont fait leurs courses.	They did their shopping.

Imparfait: This tense describes ongoing actions or habitual actions in the past, setting the scene or background of a story. The imparfait of faire is:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	Translation
Je	faisais	Je faisais mes devoirs tous les soirs.	I used to do my homework every evening.
Tu	faisais	Tu faisais du sport régulièrement.	You used to do sports regularly.
Il/Elle/On	faisait	Il faisait beau la plupart du temps.	It was usually nice weather.
Nous	faisions	Nous faisions un gâteau pour son anniversaire.	We used to make a cake for his birthday.
Vous	faisiez	Vous faisiez du bon travail.	You used to do good work.
Ils/Elles	faisaient	Ils faisaient leurs courses le samedi.	They used to do their shopping on Saturdays.

Future Tense Conjugation of Faire

The future tense (futur simple) expresses actions that will happen in the future. Faire’s future tense is formed regularly:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	Translation
Je	ferai	Je ferai mes devoirs ce soir.	I will do my homework tonight.
Tu	feras	Tu feras du sport demain.	You will do sports tomorrow.
Il/Elle/On	fera	Il fera beau demain.	It will be nice weather tomorrow.
Nous	ferons	Nous ferons un gâteau pour la fête.	We will make a cake for the party.
Vous	ferez	Vous ferez du bon travail, j'espère.	You will do good work, I hope.
Ils/Elles	feront	Ils feront leurs courses plus tard.	They will do their shopping later.

Conditional Tense Conjugation of Faire

The conditional tense (conditionnel présent) expresses hypothetical or conditional actions. It's formed by adding the conditional endings to the future stem "fer-".

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	Translation
Je	ferais	Je ferais mes devoirs si j'avais le temps.	I would do my homework if I had the time.
Tu	ferais	Tu ferais du sport si tu étais en meilleure forme.	You would do sports if you were in better shape.
Il/Elle/On	ferait	Il ferait beau si le ciel était clair.	It would be nice weather if the sky were clear.
Nous	ferions	Nous ferions un gâteau si nous avions les ingrédients.	We would make a cake if we had the ingredients.
Vous	feriez	Vous feriez du bon travail si vous vous appliquiez.	You would do good work if you applied yourselves.
Ils/Elles	feraient	Ils feraient leurs courses demain.	They would do their shopping tomorrow.

Subjunctive Mood Conjugation of Faire

The subjunctive (subjonctif) expresses a wish, a doubt, or a necessity. It's used after certain verbs and expressions. The present subjunctive of faire is:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	Translation
Je	fasse	Il est important que je fasse mes devoirs.	It's important that I do my homework.
Tu	fasses	Je veux que tu fasses du sport.	I want you to do sports.
Il/Elle/On	fasse	Il est nécessaire qu'il fasse son travail.	It's necessary that he do his work.
Nous	fassions	Il faut que nous fassions un effort.	We must make an effort.
Vous	fassiez	Je souhaite que vous fassiez de votre mieux.	I wish that you do your best.
Ils/Elles	fassent	Il est essentiel qu'ils fassent leurs recherches.	It's essential that they do their research.

The passé composé of the subjunctive is formed with avoir in the subjunctive followed by the past participle fait. This is more complex and used less frequently in spoken French, so it's advisable to focus on the present subjunctive first.

Imperative Mood Conjugation of Faire

The imperative (impératif) is used for commands or requests. Faire’s imperative is:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	Translation
Tu	fais	Fais tes devoirs !	Do your homework!
Nous	faisons	Faisons un gâteau !	Let's make a cake!
Vous	faites	Faites votre travail !	Do your work!

The "vous" form is used formally and informally with plural audiences. There are no "je", "il/elle/on", or "ils/elles" forms in the imperative, as these pronouns imply a less direct command.

Common Expressions with "Faire"

Faire is involved in many idiomatic expressions:

Faire attention: To pay attention
Faire la cuisine: To cook
Faire du sport: To do sports
Faire ses devoirs: To do one's homework
Faire un effort: To make an effort
Faire un voyage: To take a trip
Faire semblant: To pretend
Faire plaisir à quelqu'un: To please someone
Faire la fête: To party
Faire connaissance: To get to know someone

Understanding these expressions is key to navigating everyday French conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What's the difference between faire and produire?

A: While both can translate to "to make," faire is more general and widely used for actions and creations. Produire implies a more industrial or large-scale production. You faire a cake, but a factory produit cakes.

Q: How do I choose between passé composé and imparfait?

A: Use passé composé for completed actions. Use imparfait to set the scene, describe habitual actions in the past, or describe a state of being.

Q: When do I use the subjunctive?

A: The subjunctive is used after expressions of emotion, necessity, doubt, and volition (wanting something to happen). It expresses a subjective viewpoint rather than an objective fact.

Q: Is there a future perfect tense for faire?

A: Yes, it's formed with avoir in the future tense + fait (e.g., j'aurai fait, tu auras fait, etc.). This indicates an action that will be completed by a specific time in the future.

Q: Are there any other past tenses for faire?

A: Yes, although less commonly used in everyday conversation, faire also has a plus-que-parfait (pluperfect – had done), and a passé simple (simple past – a literary tense). Mastering the passé composé and imparfait is the priority.

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugation of faire is a significant step towards fluency in French. While its irregularity might seem daunting at first, with consistent practice and a methodical approach using this guide, you will become proficient in using this versatile verb in all its tenses and moods. Remember to practice regularly, using the example sentences as a springboard for your own creative sentences. The more you use faire in context, the more natural and fluent your French will become. Bonne chance! (Good luck!)