The following is according to my understanding.<\/p>\n
\nIt’s been decades since I first learned about partir and sortir. I’ve always known they’re irregular; today I thought about why.<\/p>\n
\nBoth partir (to leave) and sortir (to go out) follow the same pattern. Taking partir, it’s je\/tu pars, il\/elle part, nous partons, vous partez, ils\/elles partent. What might be a surprise is the switch from -s to -t between je\/tu and il\/elle. Sortir works the same.<\/p>\n
\nBy the ending, one would have to classify partir and sortir are -ir verbs. French -ir verbs are interesting: it seems to me some sources don’t acknowledge a regular -ir verb model, while others suggest finir (to finish) is the model for a regular -ir verb.<\/p>\n
\nThe present indicative conjugation of finir is je\/tu finis, il\/elle finit, nous finissons, vous finissez, ils\/elles finissent. Does that seem regular? (You be the judge:) Anyway, if it is, then one can perceive that partir and sortir are irregular.<\/p>\n
\nInteresting, eh?<\/p>\n
Source:<\/p>\n
Kenney, M., Burville, V., Hickox, B., Hill, J., and Potter, C. (1977). Passeport Français 8: Bonne Chance!<\/em> D.C. Heath Canada Ltd.<\/p>\n \nDubois, M-M, Keen, D.J., Shuey, B., Corbeil, J-C., Crocker, L.G. (1983). Larousse’s French-English Dictionary.<\/em> Pocket Books New York.<\/p>\nJack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane,<\/a> Campbell River, BC.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Self-tutoring about French: the tutor mentions the irregular verbs partir and sortir in present indicative. The following is according to my understanding. It’s been decades since I first learned about partir and sortir. I’ve always known they’re irregular; today I …<\/p>\n