lire/li/
verb / noun · A1 · Frequency 418
verb
Meanings
to read
Typically used to denote the active reading of texts, books, articles, etc.
Examples
Elle lit quelques pages avant de s'endormir.
She reads a few pages before falling asleep.
Le technicien lit les instructions sur l'écran avant de démarrer la machine.
The technician reads the instructions on the screen before starting the machine.
Mon fils lit déjà les petits mots de son livre.
My son can already read the short words in his book.
Collocations
- lire un livreto read a book
Common mistakes
Nous sommes lu ce livre
Nous avons lu ce livre
Lire forms the compound past with the auxiliary avoir, so the correct form is avons lu, not sommes lu.
Related words
Grammar note
Lire is a transitive verb that forms compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir. As an essential pronominal verb, reflexive pronouns must be correctly placed during conjugation.
verb
Meanings
to read
Typically used to denote the active reading of texts, books, articles, etc.
Examples
Elle aime lire avant de s'endormir.
She likes to read before falling asleep.
Il faut lire attentivement les consignes avant de commencer.
You must read the instructions carefully before starting.
Prenez le temps de lire ce contrat avant de le signer.
Take the time to read this contract before signing it.
Collocations
- lire un livreto read a book
Common mistakes
Nous sommes lu ce livre
Nous avons lu ce livre
Lire forms the compound past with the auxiliary avoir, so the correct form is avons lu, not sommes lu.
Related words
Grammar note
Lire is a transitive verb that forms compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir. As an essential pronominal verb, reflexive pronouns must be correctly placed during conjugation.
nounfeminine
Meanings
lira (unit of currency)
Refers to the historical currency unit used in Italy and other countries.
Examples
La lire a longtemps été la monnaie de l'Italie.
The lira was Italy's currency for a long time.
Mon grand-père gardait une ancienne lire dans sa collection de pièces.
My grandfather kept an old lira in his coin collection.
Cette lire italienne n'a presque plus de valeur aujourd'hui.
This Italian lira is now almost worthless.
Collocations
- la lire italiennethe Italian lira
Common mistakes
le lire
la lire
As a feminine noun, 'lire' requires the feminine article 'la'.
lire (verbe)
lire (nom)
When used as a noun, 'lire' should not be confused with the verb form.
Related words
synonymlecturereading
antonymécriturewriting
verb
Meanings
to read
Typically used to denote the active reading of texts, books, articles, etc.
Examples
Lisant le rapport dans le train, elle a pris des notes.
Reading the report on the train, she took notes.
Lisant chaque soir avant de dormir, il a terminé plusieurs romans ce mois-ci.
Reading every evening before bed, he finished several novels this month.
Lisant les instructions avec attention, nous avons évité une erreur.
Reading the instructions carefully, we avoided a mistake.
Grammar note
Lire is a transitive verb that forms compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir. As an essential pronominal verb, reflexive pronouns must be correctly placed during conjugation.
verb
Meanings
to read
Typically used to denote the active reading of texts, books, articles, etc.
Examples
J'ai lu le rapport avant la réunion.
I read the report before the meeting.
Elle a lu les instructions avec attention.
She read the instructions carefully.
Nous avons lu ce message plusieurs fois.
We read this message several times.
Collocations
- lire un livreto read a book
Common mistakes
Nous sommes lu ce livre
Nous avons lu ce livre
Lire forms the compound past with the auxiliary avoir, so the correct form is avons lu, not sommes lu.
Related words
Grammar note
Lire is a transitive verb that forms compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir. As an essential pronominal verb, reflexive pronouns must be correctly placed during conjugation.
verb
Meanings
to read
Typically used to denote the active reading of texts, books, articles, etc.
Examples
Chaque soir, tu lis quelques pages avant de dormir.
Every evening, you read a few pages before going to sleep.
Au calme, tu lis les instructions sur la boîte.
In a quiet moment, you read the instructions on the box.
Pendant le trajet, tu lis les messages reçus dans la matinée.
During the journey, you read the messages received that morning.
Grammar note
Lire is a transitive verb that forms compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir. As an essential pronominal verb, reflexive pronouns must be correctly placed during conjugation.