French conjugation explanation
Spelling change: -e_er → -è-
<p>For French verbs ending in <strong style="font-style: italic;">-e- + consonant + -er</strong> (like
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/acheter/" title="Click to see conjugations for acheter" target="_blank">acheter</a>
or<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/lever/" title="Click to see conjugations for lever" target="_blank">lever</a>
), the stem vowel <span style="font-style: italic;">-e-</span> changes to <span style="font-style: italic;">-è-</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">e</span> with an accent grave) whenever the <strong>next syllable is silent</strong>.</p><p>This change occurs to open the vowel sound. It affects:</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>singular forms</strong> (je, tu, il/elle/on) and the <strong>third person plural</strong> (ils/elles) of the Present Indicative and Subjunctive.</li>
<li><strong>All forms</strong> of the Future and Conditional.</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The Pattern</div>
<p>The change happens because the ending is "mute" (silent <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span>). When the ending is pronounced (as in <span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">vous</span> forms of the present tense), the stem remains unchanged.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">J'<span class="green_emphasis">achète</span> du pain. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I buy bread.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Nous <span class="brown_emphasis">achetons</span> du pain. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We buy bread.</span>)</div>
<p>Common verbs that follow this pattern include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/acheter/" title="Click to see conjugations for acheter" target="_blank">acheter</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to buy</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/lever/" title="Click to see conjugations for lever" target="_blank">lever</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to lift/raise</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/mener/" title="Click to see conjugations for mener" target="_blank">mener</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to lead</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/peser/" title="Click to see conjugations for peser" target="_blank">peser</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to weigh</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/%C3%A9lever/" title="Click to see conjugations for élever" target="_blank">élever</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to raise/bring up</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/achever/" title="Click to see conjugations for achever" target="_blank">achever</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to complete/finish</span>)</li></ul>
<p>In the following conjugation tables for
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/acheter/" title="Click to see conjugations for acheter" target="_blank">acheter</a>
, the forms with the <span style="font-style: italic;">-è-</span> 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"><span>j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achète<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">achètes<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">achète<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>achetons
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vous
</span>achetez
</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">achètent<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"><span>que j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achète<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">achètes<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">achète<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>achetions
</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>achetiez
</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">achètent<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>For the <strong>Future</strong> and <strong>Conditional</strong>, the change occurs in <strong>all forms</strong> because the <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span> is followed by the consonant <span style="font-style: italic;">r</span> of the future stem:</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/28/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Futur simple</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun"><span>j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèterai<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">
tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèteras<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">
il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achètera<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><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèterons<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">
vous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèterez<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">
ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèteront<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/32/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Conditionnel présent</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun"><span>j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèterais<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">
tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèterais<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">
il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèterait<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><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèterions<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">
vous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèteriez<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">
ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">achèteraient<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Exceptions: Doubling the Consonant</div>
<p>Two very common verbs (and their derivatives) solve the pronunciation issue differently. Instead of adding an accent grave (<span style="font-style: italic;">è</span>), they <strong>double the following consonant</strong> (l → ll, t → tt). This has the same phonetic effect of opening the <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span> sound.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>El + consonant + er:</strong> Verbs like
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/appeler/" title="Click to see conjugations for appeler" target="_blank">appeler</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to call</span>) and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/rappeler/" title="Click to see conjugations for rappeler" target="_blank">rappeler</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to recall/call back</span>).</li></ul>
<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"><span>j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">appelle<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">appelles<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">appelle<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>appelons
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vous
</span>appelez
</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">appellent<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/28/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Futur simple</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun"><span>j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">appellerai<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">
tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">appelleras<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">
il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">appellera<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><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">appellerons<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">
vous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">appellerez<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">
ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">appelleront<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Et + consonant + er:</strong> Verbs like
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/jeter/" title="Click to see conjugations for jeter" target="_blank">jeter</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to throw</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/rejeter/" title="Click to see conjugations for rejeter" target="_blank">rejeter</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to reject</span>), and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/projeter/" title="Click to see conjugations for projeter" target="_blank">projeter</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to project/plan</span>).</li></ul>
<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">jette<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">jettes<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">jette<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>jetons
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vous
</span>jetez
</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">jettent<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/28/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Futur simple</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
je
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">jetterai<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">
tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">jetteras<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">
il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">jettera<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><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">jetterons<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">
vous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">jetterez<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">
ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">jetteront<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Note: This explanation covers the standard traditional spelling. While the 1990 spelling rectifications proposed using <span style="font-style: italic;">è</span> for more verbs (like <span style="font-style: italic;">jeter</span>), the doubled consonant forms remain the standard taught in most courses.</p>