Stem-Changing -ER Verbs French

5B.2: Spelling-Change
-ER Verbs

Point de Départ

Some -ER verbs with regular endings have spelling changes in the verb stem (what remains after the -er is dropped.

But first....let's review regular
-ER verb endings!

Drag and Drop

The -ER verb ending for JE is...

Placeholder

​

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

E

ONS

EZ

ENT

Drag and Drop

The -ER verb ending for TU is...

Placeholder

​

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

ES

ONS

EZ

ENT

E

Drag and Drop

The -ER verb ending for IL / ELLE / ON is...

Placeholder

​

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

E

ONS

EZ

ENT

ES

Drag and Drop

The -ER verb ending for NOUS is...

Placeholder

​

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

E

ONS

EZ

ENT

ES

Drag and Drop

The -ER verb ending for VOUS is...

Placeholder

​

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

E

ONS

EZ

ENT

ES

Drag and Drop

The -ER verb ending for ILS / ELLES is...

Placeholder

​

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

E

ONS

ES

ENT

EZ

FANTASTIQUE! We'll get more practice with regular -ER verb endings too.

The basic rule:

For many infinitives with an unaccented e in the next-to-last syllable, the e changes to è in ALL FORMS but nous and vous.

This is also known as the BOOT FORM!

The Je, Tu, Il, Elle, On, and Ils / Elles forms will receive the stem-change, since they're in the boot. Nous and vous don't get the change, since they're out side the boot.

​

The BOOT FORM

Multiple Select

Stem changes only happen in what forms...SELECT ALL ANSWERS!

• je

• tu

• nous

• vous

• ils / elles

Multiple Select

Stem changes DON'T HAPPEN in which forms...SELECT ALL ANSWERS!

• je

• il / elle / on

• nous

• vous

• ils / elles

Multiple Choice

The stem-change form is also called the boot form.

• Vrai

• Faux

Multiple Choice

The endings of -ER verbs will also change for these verbs.

• Vrai

• Faux

Multiple Choice

Je (acheter)

• j'achéte

• j'achète

• j'achete

Multiple Choice

Nous (acheter)

• nous achetons

• nous achètons

• nous achétons

Multiple Choice

Acheter means...

• to sell

• to call

• to buy

The É Rule:

For infinitives with an é in the next-to-last syllable, the é changes to è in all forms but nous and vous.

Multiple Choice

Préférer means...

• to want

• to prefer

• to buy

Multiple Choice

Both é change to a è for préférer.

• Vrai

• Faux

Multiple Choice

tu (préférer)

• tu prèfères

• tu préféres

• tu préfères

The -YER Rule:

For infinitives ending in -yer, the y changes to an i in all forms except nous and vous.

Multiple Choice

elle (payer)

• elle paè

• elle paye

• elle paie

Multiple Choice

Payer means:

• to pay

• to buy

• to go shopping

Other Spelling-Change Verbs

Like ACHETER:

AMENER - to bring (someone)
EMMENER - to take (someone)

Other Spelling-Change Verbs

Like PRÉFÉRER:

ESPÉRER - to hope
POSSÉDER - to possess ; to own
PROTÉGER - to protect
RÉPÉTER - to repeat ; to rehearse

Other Spelling-Change Verbs

Like PAYER:

ENVOYER - to send
ESSAYER (DE + INF) - to try (to)

Multiple Choice

Ils (envoyer)

• ils envoient

• ils envoyent

• ils envoie

Multiple Choice

Tu (posséder)

• tu possédes

• tu possèdes

• tu possedes

Multiple Choice

Nous (amener)

• Nous aménons

• Nous aménons

• Nous amenons