Present Tense-

E R Spelling Change Verbs, Part 2-

We will now learn to conjugate in the present tense several E R verbs that have spelling changes in their stem. Some examples include: acheter (to buy), appeler (to call), essayer (to try), and préférer (to prefer). In the present tense, spelling change verbs will typically have one stem in all singular forms (je, tu, il, elle, on) and the third person plural (ils, elles). But, in the nous and vous forms of the plural, they will have another stem.

Here is the verb acheter conjugated in the present tense. Be sure to listen for the è sound in all singular forms (je, tu, il, elle, on) and in the third person plural (ils, elles). However, in the nous and vous forms of the plural, please note that the vowel sound is silent.

The following verbs are conjugated like acheter: amener (to bring or take -- when talking about a person), emmener (to take along, to take someone somewhere), and peser (to weigh)

Now, listen to your screen reader conjugate the verb appeler:

The verbs renouveler (to renew), and étinceler (to sparkle, glitter), are conjugated like appeler. You will notice that the letter e which is right next to a double l in the singular and the third-person plural stems is pronounced like an è. In French, this open sound is sometimes depicted in writing by an è. However, this same sound is represented in other verbs by a double l or even a double t as in the verbs jeter (to throw), projeter (to plan), and rejeter (to reject, throw back).

• Introduction
• Present
• Commands
• Passé Composé
• Imperfect
• Near Future
• Future
• Conditional
• Subjunctive
• Review
• Table of Contents