Group 2: regular -ir verbs (-iss-, finir)
Summary
Group 2 verbs end in -ir and insert the infix -iss- in the three plural present forms, following the model of finir.
Explanation
The second group is the regular -ir verbs that follow the model of finir. To conjugate them in the present, drop the -ir to get the stem (fin-) and add the endings -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent: je finis, tu finis, il/elle/on finit, nous finissons, vous finissez, ils/elles finissent. The defining feature is the infix -iss- that appears in all three plural forms. Common members include choisir, réussir, grandir, obéir, réfléchir and rougir.
This group is much smaller than group 1 — a few hundred verbs — but very consistent: every true group 2 verb conjugates exactly like finir across all tenses, and the -iss- also surfaces in the imperfect (nous finissions), the present subjunctive (que je finisse) and the present participle (finissant). Once you recognise the pattern, the whole verb is predictable.
When do you use it? Constantly, because several very frequent everyday verbs are group 2 (finir, choisir, réussir). Many of them are also formed from adjectives to express becoming a quality — grandir (to grow), rougir (to blush, from rouge), vieillir (to grow old), maigrir (to lose weight) — which makes the group productive and easy to expand once the pattern is clear.
The main pitfall is assuming that every -ir verb is group 2. It is not: partir, sortir, dormir, servir, venir, tenir, ouvrir and offrir all end in -ir but belong to group 3 and never take -iss- (nous partons, not partons). A reliable test is the present participle — group 2 gives -issant (finissant), whereas group 3 -ir verbs give plain forms (partant). The second trap is dropping the -iss- itself in the plural, which produces the non-word nous finons.
Rule of thumb: a verb is group 2 only if its nous-form takes -issons; if you cannot confirm the -iss-, treat the -ir verb as irregular group 3 and check its conjugation rather than guessing.
Examples
Je finis mes devoirs et nous choisissons un film. — I am finishing my homework and we are choosing a film. (choisir is group 2: nous choisissons.)
Les enfants grandissent vite. — Children grow up fast.
Tu réussis toujours tes examens. — You always pass your exams.
Réfléchissez bien avant de répondre. — Think carefully before answering. (vous form keeps -iss-: réfléchissez.)
Elle rougit dès qu'on lui parle. — She blushes as soon as you speak to her.
Common mistakes
Nous finons à midi.
Nous finissons à midi.
Regular Group 2 -ir verbs like finir insert -iss- in all three plural forms of the present: nous finissons, vous finissez, ils finissent. Dropping the -iss- ("nous finons") is wrong. This infix is the very marker that identifies a Group 2 verb, so keep it whenever the subject is plural.
Prerequisites
Related rules
verb-groupspresent-tenseregular-verbs