why is e silent in verbs like jouer or crier but not the rest?

clara g.B2Kwiziq community member

why is e silent in verbs like jouer or crier but not the rest?

HI,

I am confused with how this is laid out. 

Are all ER verbs have a silent e in them/? due to the non pronounced e shcwa? 

What makes jouer and crier different from your other examples like manger and parler? 

In very formal spoken french would you be required to speak these e's - for example in poetry?

Asked 3 months ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Clara, 

What it means is that in the case of jouer and crier 

you say 

je cri- rai ( 2 syllables)

and not

je cri -e- rai ( 3 syllables)

and the same for jouer 

je jou-rai

and not

je jou-e-rai 

Whereas in the case of parler or manger 

You have 

je man-ge-rai ( 3 syllables) 

je par-le-rai     (      "         )

The difference is that the -e of these verbs makes a new syllable in the future tense 

This is not the case in the present tense -

je joue ( -e is silent)

Je mange (    "     )

 I hope I have understood your confusion and explained the differences.

why is e silent in verbs like jouer or crier but not the rest?

HI,

I am confused with how this is laid out. 

Are all ER verbs have a silent e in them/? due to the non pronounced e shcwa? 

What makes jouer and crier different from your other examples like manger and parler? 

In very formal spoken french would you be required to speak these e's - for example in poetry?

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