Spelling Changes to Verbs

For verbs ending in -eter and -eler, double the final consonant before the silent endings

-eter and -eler Verb Ending Changes

Pronouns	Jeter (To Throw)	S’appeler (To Call Oneself)
je	jette	m’appelle
tu	jettes	t’appelle
il/elle/on	jette	s’appelle
nous	jetons	nous appelons
vous	jetez	vous appelez
ils/elles	jettent	s’appellent

Other -eter and -eler Examples

Français	Anglais
épeler	to spell
rappeler	to call back, recall
renouveler	to renew
rejeter	to reject

For verbs with an -e (or é) before the last syllable of the infinitive change the vowel to -è before the silent endings

-e and -é Verb Ending Changes

Pronouns	Se laver (to get up)	Espérer (to hope)
je (j’)	me lève	espère
tu	te lèves	espères
il/elle/on	se lève	espère
nous	nous levons	espérons
vous	vous levez	espérez
ils/elles	se lèvent	espèrent

Other -e and -é Examples

Français	Anglais
acheter	to buy
compléter	to complete
inquiéter	to worry
préférer	to prefer
répéter	to repeat

For verbs that end in -oyer or -uyer, change the -y to -i before the silent endings

-oyer and -uyer Verb Ending Changes

Pronouns	Nettoyer (to clean)	Essuyer (to wipe)
je	nettoie	essuie
tu	nettoies	essuies
il/elle/on	nettoie	essuie
nous	nettoyons	essuyones
vous	nettoyez	essuyez
ils/elles	nettoient	essuient

A spelling change also takes place in verbs ending in -ayer with the -y changing to -i before the silent endings. However, this change is optional and the verb can be spelt in the regular way, e.g essayer (to try): j’essaie and j’essaye are both correct

Other -ayer Examples

Français	Anglais
effrayer	to frighten
essayer	to try
payer	to pay

Verbs that end in -ger have a spelling change before the hard vowels, -a and -o. Add an -e after the g

Verbs that end in -cer have a spelling change before the hard vowels, -a and -o. Change -c to a -ç

-cer and -ger Verb Ending Changes

Pronouns	Manger (to eat)	Commencer (to begin)
je	mange	commence
tu	manges	comemnces
il/elle/on	mange	commence
nous	mangeons	commençons
vous	mangez	commencez
ils/elles	mangent	commencent

Other -cer and -ger Examples

Français	Anglais
changer	to change
dé ménager	to move
nager	to swim
partager	to share
voyager	to travel