LFC: Stem-changing -ER verbs
Stem-changing -ER verbs
Stem-changing verbs are verbs that conjugated the same as -ER verbs, but their stems change.
What is a stem?
- When you drop the -ER from the verb, parler, you have parl-, which is the stem of parler.
In French, stem-changing verbs have two stems: one for the je, tu, il/elle and ils/elles forms and one for the nous and vous forms. Stem-changing verbs are sometimes called "boot" or "shoe" verbs because if you trace the je, tu, il/elle and ils/elles forms while excluding the nous and vous forms in a conjugation table, the tracing looks like a boot or shoe. You can google "stem-changing verbs in French" and then click "images" to see what this looks like.
Remember, when we talk about conjugating verbs, we are just talking about making the verb agree with the subject.
Important reminder: you have to be able to type French accents when taking quizzes and tests. There are a number of ways to type French accents and how you choose to type French accents depends on your computer and the way of typing accents you like. Google "typing accents in French" and choose the system that best works for you. To practice typing accents in BEFORE taking a quiz or exam, take the "Typing accents in French" test quiz. The "typing accents in French" is not scored and you can practice typing French accents in a quiz setting at any time.
Examples
-er Verbs
To conjugate an -er verb, take off the -er and add the endings listed below in bold.
| Regular -er verbs | |
|---|---|
| adorer | to adore, to love |
| aimer | to like |
| chanter | to sing |
| chercher | to look for |
| danser | to dance |
| demander | to ask |
| détester | to detest, to hate |
| donner | to give |
| écouter | to listen to |
| étudier | to study |
| habiter | to live |
| jouer | to play |
| monter | to show |
| présenter | to introduce |
| regarder | to watch |
| rester | to stay, to remain |
| téléphoner | to phone |
| travailler | to work |
| trouver | to find |
Locating Verbs
Cherchez un correspondant ou une correspondante. Can you find the verbs below?
View the full text from the image above.
ANNOUNCEMENT 1 Salut ! Je me présente : Je m'appelle Nicole et je suis américaine. Je cherche un correspondant français. J'habite à Atlanta et je suis lycéenne. J'étudie le français et l'espagnol. Je ne travaille pas. Comme passe-temps, j'adore chanter et danser. Mes amis et moi, nous aimons jouer au foot. Le week-end, nous restons à la maison et nous regardons des films d'horreur. Et vous, qu'est-ce que vous aimez faire ? ANNOUNCEMENT 2 Bonjour tout le monde ! Je m'appelle Maurice et je suis allemand. J'habite en Allemagne près de Strasbourg en France. J'étudie le français et l'anglais. Je cherche un correspondant français. Je suis très sportif et j'aime le foot et le basket. En hiver, je fais chaque week-end du ski. Je ne joue pas de instruments et je ne chante pas, mais j'adore écouter de la musique. Et toi ? Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire ? Qu'est-ce que tu aimes comme musique ?