Stem-Changing Verbs
French: AQA GCSE (2025 Exams), topic 4.1.9
Stem Changing Verbs
Some verbs change their stem in the present tense.
Verbs that end in 'ayer'
- For verbs that end in 'ayer' the stem changes in all forms except the 'nous and 'vous' forms.
- The 'y' changes to an 'i'.
Payer - to pay
- Je paie - I pay.
- Tu paies - you (singular) pay.
- Il/elle/on paie - he/she/one pays
- Nous payons - we pay.
- Vous payez - you (plural/formal) pay.
- Ils/elles paient - they pay.
Verbs that end in 'eler' and 'eter'
- With verbs that end in 'eler' or 'eter' the 'l' or the 't' become double when conjugated.
- In the present tense this happens in all forms except the 'nous' and 'vous' forms.
S'appeler - to be called
- Je m'appelle - I am called.
- Tu t'appelles - you (singular) are called.
- Il/elle/on s'appelle - he/she/one is called.
- Nous nous appelons - we are called.
- Vous vous appelez - you (plural/formal) are called.
- Ils/elles s'appellent - they are called.
Verbs that end in e_er
- The '_' represents a consonant, like 'v' for example.
- For any verb that ends like this, the 'e' that comes before the consonant changes to 'è'.
- This happens in all forms except the 'nous' and 'vous' forms.
Se lever - to get up
- Je me lève - I get up.
- Tu te lèves - you (singular) get up.
- Il/elle/on se lève - he/she/one gets up.
- Nous nous levons - we get up.
- Vous vous levez - you (plural/formal) get up.
- Ils/elles se lèvent - they get up.
Stem Changing Verbs
Some verbs change their stem in the present tense.
Verbs that end in 'é_er'
- For verbs that end in 'é_ter', the '_' representes a consonant. - - The 'é' changes to an 'è' in all forms except the 'nous and 'vous' forms.
Compléter - to complete
- Je complète - I complete.
- Tu complètes - you (singular) complete.
- Il/elle/on complète - he/she/one completes.
- Nous complétons - we complete.
- Vous complétez - you (plural/formal) complete.
- Ils/elles complètent - they complete.
Verbs that end in 'oyer'
- With verbs that end in 'oyer', the 'y' changes to an 'i'.
- In the present tense this happens in all forms except the 'nous' and 'vous' forms.
Envoyer - to send
- J'envoie - I send.
- Tu envoies - you (singular) send.
- Il/elle/on envoie - he/she/one sends.
- Nous envoyons - we send.
- Vous envoyez - you (plural/formal) send.
- Ils/elles envoient - they send.
Verbs that end in uyer
- With verbs that end in 'uyer', the 'y' changes to an 'i'.
- In the present tense this happens in all forms except the 'nous' and 'vous' forms.
Ennuyer - to annoy, bore
- J'ennuie - I annoy.
- Tu ennuies - you (singular) annoy.
- Il/elle/on ennuie - he/she/one annoys.
- Nous ennuyons - we annoy.
- Vous ennuyez - you (plural/formal) annoy.
- Ils/elles ennuient - they annoy.
Test yourself on Stem-Changing Verbs
'Acheter', to buy, ends in 'eter'. How do you say they buy?
How do you say 'you (singular) get up' in French?
How do you say 'they repeat' in French?
How do you say 'they complete' in French?