Verbs ending in -ETER and -ELER such as geler, acheter, congeler ... are semi-regular -ER verbs in Présent indicatif, which means that, even though they take the regular -ER endings of Présent indicatif, their spelling and subsequently their pronunciation vary.
The majority of -ETER and -ELER verbs follow this rule: they double the T or L with je/tu/il/elle/on/ils/elles.
To practise these verbs, see the related lesson Conjugate -eter and -eler verbs in Le Présent - main rule (ll / tt)
HOWEVER with every rule come exceptions !
The following-ETER and -ELER verbs behave differently.
They always and only take the accent è on the first -e (-eter/-eler) with je/tu/il/elle/on/ils/elles (they can never double the T or L).
Here is the example of GELER (to freeze):
| je gèle |
| tu gèles |
| il/elle/on gèle |
| nous gelons |
| vous gelez |
| ils/elles gèlent |
Of course, the pronunciation is affected: gèle/gèles/gèlent are pronounced [jell], whereas gelons/gelez are [juh-lon / juh-ley]
And here is the example of ACHETER (to buy):
| j'achète |
| tu achètes |
| il/elle/on achète |
| nous achetons |
| vous achetez |
| ils/elles achètent |
Of course, the pronunciation is affected: achète/achètes/achètent are pronounced [achette], whereas achetons/achetez are [achuh-ton / achuh-tey]
Here is the complete list of exceptions, so you just need to know them (or at least the ones you might actually use (*), as most of the other ones are extremely rare!) :
agneler - to yean / give birth to a lamb
celer - to conceal
* receler - to conceal / to receive, hold stolen goods
ciseler - to chisel
* démanteler - to dismantle / take down
* écarteler - to quarter
s'encasteler - to be hoof bound
* geler - to freeze
* dégeler - to thaw (out)
* congeler - to freeze [something]
* surgeler - to quick-freeze [something]
* marteler - to hammer
* modeler - to model, to mould [US: to mold]
* peler - to peel (off)
* acheter - to buy
* racheter - to buy again, to acquire, to buy back
bégueter - to bleat (goat)
corseter - to corset
crocheter - to pick (a lock), to crochet
fileter - to thread
* fureter - to rummage, to nose about
* haleter - to pant
Look and listen at these other examples:
Le détective démantèle des réseaux criminels, et vous les démantelez avec lui.
The detective dismantles criminal networks, and you dismantle them with him.
Elles rachètent sa maison, et vous rachetez la leur.
They buy her house back and you buy theirs back.
Tu achètes des bananes et nous achetons des tomates.
You buy bananas and we buy tomatoes.
La route gèle en hiver.
The road freezes in winter.
Je pèle les pommes de terre et vous pelez les pommes.
I'm peeling the potatoes and you're peeling the apples.
Ma grand-mère ne congèle jamais les légumes, mais nous, nous congelons tout !
My grandma never freezes vegetables, but we freeze everything!
Ma petite sœur furète partout, mais nous, nous ne furetons jamais.
My little sister rummages everywhere, but we never rummage about.
And to study other -E(-)ER and -É(-)ER verbs, see Conjugate -é(-)er, -e(-)er verbs in Le Présent (except -eter and -eler)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
La route gèle en hiver.
The road freezes in winter.
Je pèle les pommes de terre et vous pelez les pommes.
I'm peeling the potatoes and you're peeling the apples.
Ma petite sœur furète partout, mais nous, nous ne furetons jamais.
My little sister rummages everywhere, but we never rummage about.
Tu achètes des bananes et nous achetons des tomates.
You buy bananas and we buy tomatoes.
Ma grand-mère ne congèle jamais les légumes, mais nous, nous congelons tout !
My grandma never freezes vegetables, but we freeze everything!
Le détective démantèle des réseaux criminels, et vous les démantelez avec lui.
The detective dismantles criminal networks, and you dismantle them with him.
Mes amis pèlent tous les étés !
My friends' skin peels every summer.
Elles rachètent sa maison, et vous rachetez la leur.
They buy her house back and you buy theirs back.
Loading your KwizQ&A
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
12/12/16
Yes, you could also use Le Présent Progressif here to emphasise the fact that the action is in the process of happening.
Jennifer
Kwiziq community member
12/12/16
harriet
Kwiziq community member
5 March 2017
1 reply
All e-er and é-er verbs take the è?
Would it make sense to just think of it as all e-er and é-er verbs (except jeter/appeler and derivatives) taking an è, rather than trying to remember all the exceptions? Or is using the double L/T on the ones that take it preferable?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
10 March 2017
10/03/17
The reason why we divided it in three lessons is that:
- as you wrote, all e-er and é-er take "è" BUT eter and eler verbs which have *different* exceptions
- some eter and eler take only "ll" or "tt"
- some eter and eler take only "èl" or "èt"
I hope that makes it clearer!
À bientôt !