French Stem-Changing Verbs Explained: Master “Acheter”, “Préférer”, “Appeler” and More

French Stem-Changing Verbs Explained (Acheter, Préférer, Appeler, etc.)

Learning French verbs can feel tricky—especially when the stem (the base of the verb) suddenly changes depending on the form. These are called stem-changing verbs, or verbes à changement de radical in French. But don’t worry! Once you understand the patterns, they’re not as mysterious as they seem.

This article will help you understand what stem-changing verbs are, why they change, and how to conjugate the most common ones, like acheter, préférer, appeler, and others.

What Are Stem-Changing Verbs in French?

In French, a verb’s stem is the part that remains when you remove the ending (-er, -ir, or -re).

For example:

• parler → stem: parl-

• acheter → stem: achet-
  

Usually, the stem stays the same across conjugations. But with some verbs, it changes in the spelling or sound for certain subjects (typically je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles).

That’s why we call them stem-changing verbs.

These changes help maintain the correct pronunciation of the verb. French spelling often adjusts to keep the sound consistent.

The Three Most Common Types of Stem Changes

Let’s look at the main groups of stem-changing verbs you’ll encounter most often.

1. The E → È Change (like “Acheter”)

Some verbs with an -e in the stem change it to -è in certain forms.

Example: Acheter (to buy)

Conjugation:

• Je achète

• Tu achètes

• Il / Elle achète

• Nous achetons

• Vous achetez

• Ils / Elles achètent

Rule: The e → è change happens for all forms except “nous” and “vous.”

Other verbs that follow this pattern:

• amener (to bring someone) → j’amène

• se lever (to get up) → je me lève

• peser (to weigh) → je pèse
  

These verbs keep pronunciation consistent, turning the soft “uh” sound into “eh” in stressed syllables.

2. The É → È Change (like “Préférer”)

Verbs with é in the last syllable of the stem often change it to è—again, to keep pronunciation smooth.

Example: Préférer (to prefer)

Conjugation:

• Je préfère

• Tu préfères

• Il / Elle préfère

• Nous préférons

• Vous préférez

• Ils / Elles préfèrent
  

Rule: The é → è change happens in the same way as before—all forms except “nous” and “vous.”

Other verbs that behave this way:

• espérer (to hope) → j’espère

• répéter (to repeat) → je répète

• suggérer (to suggest) → je suggère
  

Tip: Think of it like the “stress accent” rule — the accent changes only in the stressed syllables of the verb.

3. The Double Consonant Change (like “Appeler” or “Jeter”)

Some verbs double their consonant to preserve pronunciation when the ending begins with a silent e.

Example: Appeler (to call)

Conjugation:

• Je appelle

• Tu appelles

• Il / Elle appelle

• Nous appelons

• Vous appelez

• Ils / Elles appellent
  

Rule: The l doubles for je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles.

Other verbs that follow this pattern:

• jeter (to throw) → je jette

• épeler (to spell) → j’épelle

• rappeler (to recall) → je rappelle
  

A Quick Recap Table

Type of change: e → è

• Example: acheter → j’achète

• Changed forms: je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles
  

Type of change: é → è

• Example: préférer → je préfère

• Changed forms: je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles
  

Type of change: Double consonant

• Example: appeler → j’appelle

• Changed forms: je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles
  

How to Remember Stem-Changing Verbs Easily

Here are a few tricks to help you master them faster:

1. Group verbs by pattern.
   Study acheter, amener, lever together since they behave alike.

2. Focus on pronunciation.
   Read verbs out loud to hear where the sound changes.

3. Practice with present tense first.
   Stem changes are most common in the présent — once you get those, others like futur simple and subjonctif will feel easier.

4. Use flashcards or verb apps.
   Seeing the patterns visually reinforces memory.

5. Write short sentences.
   Example: “J’achète du pain.” / “Elle préfère le thé.” / “Nous appelons nos amis.”
   

Final Thoughts

Stem-changing verbs might look intimidating at first, but they’re perfectly logical once you see why the changes exist. French spelling rules simply make the pronunciation smoother and more natural.

Focus on sound patterns instead of memorizing every single form, and you’ll soon start conjugating acheter, préférer, and appeler without hesitation.

So the next time you see a verb that suddenly changes its accent or doubles a consonant don’t panic. It’s just French making sure it sounds beautiful.