French conjugation explanation
Spelling change: -é_er → -è-
<p>For French verbs ending in <strong style="font-style: italic;">-é-</strong> + consonant + <strong style="font-style: italic;">-er</strong> (like
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/r%C3%A9p%C3%A9ter/" title="Click to see conjugations for répéter" target="_blank">répéter</a>
,<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/pr%C3%A9f%C3%A9rer/" title="Click to see conjugations for préférer" target="_blank">préférer</a>
, or<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/esp%C3%A9rer/" title="Click to see conjugations for espérer" target="_blank">espérer</a>
), the stem spelling changes to reflect the pronunciation.</p><p>The <strong>acute accent</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">é</span>) changes to a <strong>grave accent</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">è</span>) in verb forms where the <strong>ending is silent</strong> (i.e., when the ending is a mute <span style="font-style: italic;">-e</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">-es</span>, or <span style="font-style: italic;">-ent</span>). This change opens the vowel sound from <span style="font-style: italic;">/e/</span> to <span style="font-style: italic;">/ɛ/</span>.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Pattern Comparison</div>
<p>The accent usually changes in the singular forms and the third person plural.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>Silent ending → Accent changes (è):</strong></div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Je <span class="green_emphasis">répète</span> la question. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I repeat the question.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ils <span class="green_emphasis">espèrent</span> gagner. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They hope to win.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>Pronounced ending → Accent remains (é):</strong></div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Nous <strong>répétons</strong> la question. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We repeat the question.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Vous <strong>espérez</strong> partir. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You hope to leave.</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>This change specifically occurs in:</p>
<ul>
<li>The
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/25/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
(singular forms and 3rd person plural)</li><li>The
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>
(singular forms and 3rd person plural)</li><li>The
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/31/" target="_blank">Imperative</a>
(2nd person singular)</li></ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Future and Conditional Tenses</div>
<p>In the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/28/" target="_blank">Future</a>
and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/32/" target="_blank">Conditional</a>
tenses, there are two accepted spellings:</p><ol>
<li><strong>Traditional:</strong> Keep the <span style="font-style: italic;">é</span> (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic;">je répéterai</span>). This is the standard form found in most dictionaries.</li>
<li><strong>Reformed (1990):</strong> Change to <span style="font-style: italic;">è</span> (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic;">je répèterai</span>) to consistent with the pronunciation.</li>
</ol>
<p>Both forms are correct. This flexibility often causes confusion with
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/french_stem_change_e_consonant_er/" target="_blank">verbs ending in -e_er</a>
(like <span style="font-style: italic;">acheter</span>), where the change to <span style="font-style: italic;">è</span> is mandatory in the future (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic;">j'achèterai</span>).</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Common Verbs</div>
<p>Frequently used verbs that follow this pattern include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/r%C3%A9p%C3%A9ter/" title="Click to see conjugations for répéter" target="_blank">répéter</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to repeat</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/pr%C3%A9f%C3%A9rer/" title="Click to see conjugations for préférer" target="_blank">préférer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to prefer</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/esp%C3%A9rer/" title="Click to see conjugations for espérer" target="_blank">espérer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to hope</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/compl%C3%A9ter/" title="Click to see conjugations for compléter" target="_blank">compléter</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to complete</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/consid%C3%A9rer/" title="Click to see conjugations for considérer" target="_blank">considérer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to consider</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/prot%C3%A9ger/" title="Click to see conjugations for protéger" target="_blank">protéger</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to protect</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/inqui%C3%A9ter/" title="Click to see conjugations for inquiéter" target="_blank">inquiéter</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to worry</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/sugg%C3%A9rer/" title="Click to see conjugations for suggérer" target="_blank">suggérer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to suggest</span>)</li></ul>
<p>In the following conjugation tables, the forms of <span style="font-style: italic;">répéter</span> with the stem change are highlighted:</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/25/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Présent</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
je
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répète<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répètes<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répète<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nous
</span>répétons
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vous
</span>répétez
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répètent<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Présent du subjonctif</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que je
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répète<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répètes<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répète<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nous
</span>répétions
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vous
</span>répétiez
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répètent<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/31/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Impératif affirmatif</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(tu)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">répète<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(nous)
</span>répétons
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(vous)
</span>répétez
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>