français · A2 · verb · 4 minutes

Regular -ir verbs in the passé composé

Build a completed regular -ir action with the participle ending -i.

Understand the choice

Finir supplies a clear model for choisir, réussir, remplir, and réfléchir. The participle remains stable while the present form of avoir changes with the subject. Irregular -ir verbs such as venir do not automatically follow this pattern.

Core rule: Regular -ir verbs such as finir form the past participle by replacing -ir with -i and normally use avoir.

Notice it in context

Vous avez fini le rapport à temps.

You finished the report on time.

Avez matches vous; fini is the regular -i participle; à temps means on time.

J’ai choisi la soupe.

I chose the soup.

Choisir follows the same regular -i participle pattern: choisi.

Elles ont réussi leur examen.

They passed their exam.

Ont agrees with elles; réussi is unchanged after avoir in this basic order.

What to remember

  • Réussir un examen means pass an exam; passer un examen means take it.
  • The final -i is both written and pronounced, unlike many silent present endings.

Common trap: Do not treat every verb ending in -ir as regular. Partir gives parti but uses être; venir gives venu and uses être.

Practice this lesson with recall