Stem-Changing -ER Verbs French

Some -ER verbs with regular endings have spelling changes in the verb stem (what remains after the -er is dropped.

But first....let's review regular
-ER verb endings!

FANTASTIQUE! We'll get more practice with regular -ER verb endings too.

For many infinitives with an unaccented e in the next-to-last syllable, the e changes to è in ALL FORMS but nous and vous.

This is also known as the BOOT FORM!

The Je, Tu, Il, Elle, On, and Ils / Elles forms will receive the stem-change, since they're in the boot. Nous and vous don't get the change, since they're out side the boot.

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The BOOT FORM

For infinitives with an é in the next-to-last syllable, the é changes to è in all forms but nous and vous.

For infinitives ending in -yer, the y changes to an i in all forms except nous and vous.

Like ACHETER:

AMENER - to bring (someone)
EMMENER - to take (someone)

Like PRÉFÉRER:

ESPÉRER - to hope
POSSÉDER - to possess ; to own
PROTÉGER - to protect
RÉPÉTER - to repeat ; to rehearse

Like PAYER:

ENVOYER - to send
ESSAYER (DE + INF) - to try (to)