Stem Changing Verbs
French: KS3, topic 14.1.9
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 pay.
- Il/elle/on paie - he/she/one pays
- Nous payons - we pay.
- Vous payez - you 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 are called.
- Il/elle/on s'appelle - he/she/one is called.
- Nous nous appelons - we are called.
- Vous vous appelez - you are called.
- Ils/elles s'appellent - they are called.
Verbs that end in e_er
- The '_' represents a consonante, like 'v' for example in the verb 'lever'.
- 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 get up.
- Il/elle/on se lève - he/she/one gets up.
- Nous nous levons - we get up.
- Vous vous levez - you 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_er', the ' _ ' represents 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 complete.
- Il/elle/on complète - he/she/one completes.
- Nous complétons - we complete.
- Vous complétez - you 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 send.
- Il/elle/on envoie - he/she/one sends.
- Nous envoyons - we send.
- Vous envoyez - you 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 annoy.
- Il/elle/on ennuie - he/she/one annoys.
- Nous ennuyons - we annoy.
- Vous ennuyez - you 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 get up' in French?
How do you say 'they repeat' in French?
How do you say 'they complete' in French?