é → è

Spelling Change: E-acute to E-grave

Level 2

Verbs like préférer (to prefer) change their last stem vowel from é to è when the ending is silent (je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles).

How It Works

This spelling adjustment applies to regular -er verbs that have an é in the final syllable of their stem (like préférer, espérer, and répéter).

The 'Boot' Rule:
In the present tense, the change only occurs in the forms where the ending is silent (the 'boot' forms). This rule also applies to the present subjunctive and the imperative (tu form):

  • Je préfère
  • Tu préfères
  • Il/Elle/On préfère
  • Ils/Elles préfèrent

The nous and vous forms keep the original é because their endings are pronounced: nous préférons, vous préférez.

Important Exceptions:
Verbs ending in -éer (such as créer or agréer) are exempt from this rule; they keep the é in all forms.

Future and Conditional Tenses:
While verbs like acheter must change to è in the future, for é to è verbs, this change is optional. You may write either je préférerais (traditional) or je préfèrerais (modern). Both are correct, though the modern version better reflects the pronunciation.

Examples (6)

  1. Je préfère le café noir.

    I prefer black coffee.

    Word by Word: I prefer the coffee black.

    The stem changes from 'préfér-' to 'préfèr-' because the ending '-e' is silent.

  2. Nous espérons que tu vas bien.

    We hope that you are doing well.

    Word by Word: We hope that you go well.

    No change occurs for 'nous' because the ending '-ons' is pronounced.

  3. Ils répètent la question.

    They repeat the question.

    Word by Word: They repeat the question.

    The 'ils' form is inside the 'boot', so the accent changes to è before the silent '-ent' ending.

  4. Je préférerai partir demain.

    I will prefer to leave tomorrow (traditional).

    Word by Word: I will prefer to leave tomorrow.

    In the future tense, the traditional spelling keeps the 'é'.

  5. Je préfèrerai partir demain.

    I will prefer to leave tomorrow (modern).

    Word by Word: I will prefer to leave tomorrow.

    Since 1990, it is also optional to use 'è' in the future tense for these verbs.

  6. Elle crée une nouvelle robe.

    She is creating a new dress.

    Word by Word: She creates a new dress.

    Verbs ending in -éer, like 'créer', are exceptions and never change the 'é' to 'è'.

Common Mistakes

  • Changing the accent in the 'nous' and 'vous' forms.

    Nous préfèrons le thé.
    Nous préférons le thé.

    The accent only changes when the ending is silent. Since '-ons' is pronounced, the original 'é' is kept.

  • Using the wrong accent direction (grave vs acute).

    Il prefère partir.
    Il préfère partir.

    Only the second 'é' in the stem changes to 'è'. The first 'é' in 'préférer' always stays the same.

  • Forgetting the change in the 3rd person plural (ils/elles).

    Elles espérent gagner.
    Elles espèrent gagner.

    Even though the ending '-ent' looks long, it is silent, so the stem must change to 'è'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

é → èLevel 2Spelling Change: E-acute to E-grave

Learn This First

To learn e-acute to e-grave stem changes, you must first be comfortable with regular -er verb conjugations and subject pronouns. This pattern is a specific variation of the general 'boot verb' spelling changes in French, where the accent changes to maintain the correct vowel sound before silent endings.