/liʁ/
Translation
to read
Word origin
From Latin legere ('to read, to gather, to choose'). The same root gave English legible, lecture and legend.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- legere
- English cognates
- legible, lecture, legend, lection
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular french-irregular conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | lis | lisais | lus | lirai | lirais |
| tu | lis | lisais | lus | liras | lirais |
| il/elle | lit | lisait | lut | lira | lirait |
| nous | lisons | lisions | lûmes | lirons | lirions |
| vous | lisez | lisiez | lûtes | lirez | liriez |
| ils/elles | lisent | lisaient | lurent | liront | liraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | lise | lusse |
| tu | lises | lusses |
| il/elle | lise | lût |
| nous | lisions | lussions |
| vous | lisiez | lussiez |
| ils/elles | lisent | lussent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | lis |
| nous | lisons |
| vous | lisez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- lisant
- Past participle
- lu · lue · lus · lues
Examples
J' , c' .
I like to read before sleeping, it is my way of relaxing.
- cet ? .
Have you read this author's latest novel? It is really very good.
.
Please read the contract rules carefully before signing.
J' ' .
I like to read before falling asleep in the evening.
- ?
Did you manage to read his handwriting on the card?
est un verbe irregulier du troisieme groupe. Lire + complement d'objet direct est la construction standard. Lire entre les lignes (to read between the lines) est une expression metaphorique. Lire a haute voix (to read aloud) et lire en silence (to read silently) distinguent les modes.
Lecture (f) est le nom de l'activite. Lecteur / lectrice designe celui qui lit. Lire couramment (to read fluently) est une competence educative. Se lire (to be read) est la forme passive : ce roman se lit facilement (this novel reads easily). Bien lire (to read carefully) est une instruction importante dans les examens.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(8)Le premier jour de Clara
3 min read · Core 1000
Un après-midi de pluie
3 min read · Core 1000
Le coffre du jardin
4 min read · Core 5000
Dubois fait tout refaire
5 min read · Core 5000
Elle commence à comprendre
5 min read · Core 5000
Qu'il vienne ou non
5 min read · Core 5000
Quand tu auras fini
5 min read · Core 5000
Une décision a été prise
5 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(8)French Adjectives and Nouns with à or de
Conjugating French -re Verbs in the Present Tense
French Verb Conjugation: The Complete Rules with Examples
Faire causatif: Having Things Done in French
French Irregular Verbs: The Core Set, the -ir Split and the Patterns That Repeat
The French Present Participle and Gerund (le participe présent et le gérondif)
French Passé Composé: avoir or être + Past Participle and the MRS VANDERTRAMP Set
French Verbs with à, de or Nothing Before an Infinitive
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lire: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "lire" (to read): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 7.