them the same way as the present indicative forms without -i-: Nous gagnions (vs. gagnons), vous voyiez (vs. voyez), nous riions (vs. rions), vous brilliez (vs. brillez), … Formation of simple tenses active These tenses are not formed with an auxiliary, and their formation is discussed in the following section. Infinitive (Infinitif) A verb is normally named by its present infinitive (Infinitif présent). Starting from this infinitive, the conjugations can be classified into three different groups: The first group or first conjugation. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in -er /e/ (with the exception of aller, which due to its numerous irregularities is usually classed as being in the third conjugation): etc. For example, for the verb parler, the stem is parl- and the ending is -er . The second group or second conjugation. This contains the verbs with infinitives ending in -ir whose present participle ends in -issant : etc. For example, for the verb finir, the stem is fin- and the ending is -ir. The third group or third conjugation. This contains all the other verbs, all considered as to some extent irregular, to wit: the verbs ending in -ir not belonging to the second conjugation, the verbs ending in -oir, the verbs ending in -re, and the verb aller: etc. Examples: – the stem is cour- and the ending is -ir /iʁ/. – the stem is dev- and the ending is -oir /waʁ/. – the stem is rend- and the ending is -re /ʁ/. – the stem is all- and the ending is -er /e/. Note that the auxiliaries être and avoir, although they would naturally seem to belong to the third conjugation, are traditionally classed separately. Present indicative (Indicatif présent) The present indicative is the form of the verb used to describe an action in the present e.g. Je parle means "I speak" or "I am speaking". The stem of the present indicative is not always regular and can vary (especially in the third conjugation) and there are three main sets of endings: Verbs ending in -er (all verbs of the first group): -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent, pronounced . Verbs ending in -ir (all verbs of the second group and most of the third): -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent, pronounced . But there are numerous irregularities, especially in the third group. Verbs ending in -re (part of the third group): -s, -s,