Irregular -er verbs: the -yer pattern (y → i)
-ER verbs — Irregular Verbs
Most -er verbs follow a perfectly regular pattern. However, a small subset behaves differently.
These are the true irregular verbs within the first group.
They do not just adjust spelling for pronunciation — their stem actually changes.
The Main Irregular Pattern: -YER Verbs
Verbs ending in -yer have a special stem change.
When the ending contains a silent “e”, the letter:
y → i
This change occurs in:
- je
- tu
- il / elle / on
- ils / elles
It does NOT occur in:
- nous
- vous
Example: ENVOYER (to send)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| j’ | envoie |
| tu | envoies |
| il / elle / on | envoie |
| nous | envoyons |
| vous | envoyez |
| ils / elles | envoient |
Double Possibility
For many -yer verbs, both spellings are accepted in modern French:
👉 y → i form 👉 y stays y form
Both are correct, though the -i form is slightly more common.
Example:
- je paie or je paye
Example: PAYER (to pay)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | paie / paye |
| tu | paies / payes |
| il / elle / on | paie / paye |
| nous | payons |
| vous | payez |
| ils / elles | paient / payent |
Example: ESSAYER (to try)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| j’ | essaie / essaye |
| tu | essaies / essayes |
| il / elle / on | essaie / essaye |
| nous | essayons |
| vous | essayez |
| ils / elles | essaient / essayent |
Why This Pattern Exists
This change happens to preserve a natural pronunciation flow.
Without the change, the combination ye would be harder to pronounce smoothly.
So the spelling shifts to maintain clarity.
Both spellings are not always correct and sometimes change y → i is mandatory.
❌ J'envoye ✅ J'envoie
Key Takeaways
- Some first-group verbs are truly irregular.
- -yer verbs often change y → i before silent “e”.
- Many allow two correct spellings.
- The endings remain regular.
- These verbs are irregular only in the stem, not in their conjugation pattern.
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
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