Translation
to read
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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
, .
I like to read before sleeping, it is my way of relaxing.
? .
Have you read this author's latest novel? It is really very good.
.
Please read the contract rules carefully before signing.
.
I like to read before falling asleep in the evening.
?
Did you manage to read his handwriting on the card?
est un verbe irrégulier du troisième groupe. Lire + complément d'objet direct est la construction standard. Lire entre les lignes (to read between the lines) est une expression métaphorique. Lire à haute voix (to read aloud) et lire en silence (to read silently) distinguent les modes.
Lecture (f) est le nom de l'activité. Lecteur / lectrice désigne celui qui lit. Lire couramment (to read fluently) est une compétence éducative. 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
(15)Une heure par jour
3 min read · Core 1000
Le premier jour de Clara
3 min read · Core 1000
Sauvons le lac de la cité
3 min read · Core 5000
Au fond, à gauche
3 min read · Core 1000
Une rencontre au marché
3 min read · Core 1000
Clara trouve sa place
4 min read · Core 5000
Le bureau de Lucie
4 min read · Core 5000
Le coffre du jardin
4 min read · Core 5000
Ceux qui ne mangent jamais
5 min read · Core 5000
Il y avait beaucoup à lire
5 min read · Core 5000
Je ne conduis pas de train
5 min read · Core 5000
Le parcours était mal fait
5 min read · Core 5000
Pas devant les clients
5 min read · Core 1000
Si j'avais su
5 min read · Core 5000
Elle sera remplacée
5 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(13)French Adjectives and Nouns with à or de: Rules and List
French -re Verbs: Present Tense Conjugation Chart
French Conjugation: Tables for Every Tense and Group
Faire Causatif in French: faire + Infinitive with Examples
French Impersonal Verbs: il y a, il faut, il fait, il est
French Irregular Verbs: List, Chart and the Patterns
French Modal Verbs: pouvoir, vouloir, devoir, savoir
French Gérondif and Present Participle: en + -ant Rules
French Passé Composé: Formation and Conjugation Tables
French Passé Simple (Past Historic): How to Recognise It
French Perception Verbs + Infinitive: voir, entendre
Venir de + Infinitive: The French Recent Past, with Examples
French Verbs Followed by à or de: The Infinitive Lists
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French · Free printables
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.
This word is taught in chapter 6, lesson 8: lire, possible, prier and 7 more words.