-eler and -eter verbs – present tense
J'appelle, j'achète
Verbs ending in -eler and -eter change their stem when the ending is silent. The reason is sound: the unaccented e in appeler is a weak uh, but when it carries the stress it must become an open è.
Two ways to make the è sound
1. Double the consonant (most -eler and -eter verbs): appeler, jeter, épeler, rappeler, renouveler
| appeler | |
|---|---|
| j' | appelle |
| tu | appelles |
| il / elle | appelle |
| nous | appelons |
| vous | appelez |
| ils / elles | appellent |
2. Add a grave accent: acheter, geler, peler, modeler, congeler
| acheter | |
|---|---|
| j' | achète |
| tu | achètes |
| il / elle | achète |
| nous | achetons |
| vous | achetez |
| ils / elles | achètent |
- Je t'appelle ce soir.I'll call you tonight.
- Il jette ses vieux vêtements.He's throwing away his old clothes.
- Tu achètes du pain ?Are you buying bread?
- Nous achetons une maison.We're buying a house.
The "boot"
The changed forms are je, tu, il, ils. Written in a table they form a boot shape, which is why these are called boot verbs. Nous and vous keep the infinitive stem.
A similar change happens with lever, mener, préférer, espérer (je lève, je préfère) and with -yer verbs (j'envoie, je paie).
Practice
- J'_____ ma mère. (appeler)
Show the answer
appelle
- Tu _____ du pain ? (acheter)
Show the answer
achètes
- Nous _____ le médecin. (appeler)
Show the answer
appelons
- Ils _____ des fleurs. (acheter)
Show the answer
achètent
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.