Re: French verb conjugation: "je harcèle"? or "je harcelle"?

On Mar 26, 1:57 pm, na...@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Christian Weisgerber) wrote:
Peter T. Daniels <gramma...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

The claim was that some verbs take e-grave and some verbs take C-
doubling, but neither list was complete (that's what "and their
family" indicated -- it was a wordy way of saying "etc.").

No, the respective lists are complete except for the omission of
transparent derivates ("their family").

Whoever said "by derviation or compounding" appeared to be providing a
criterion for membership in Group 1 (derivational prefix; I see no
compounds there) -- but at least one non-derived item, jeter, is
listed in Group 1, so that's not a valid criterion.

You misunderstood.

Group 1 are the verbs that double the consonant.  These are the verbs
appeler, rappeler, chanceler, renouveler, ruisseler, jeter, as well as
all verbs transparently derived from this list.

Group 2 are the verbs that use the grave accent.  These are the
verbs celer, geler, peler, acheter, as well as all verbs transparently
derived from this list.

If membership in Group 1 or Group 2 is in fact arbitrary and
unpredictable,

Yes, it is for the base verbs listed above.

(What is Group 3?)

Verbs for which there is considerable uncertainty among respected
writers and usage authorities whether they double the consonant or
use the grave accent.

Finally you admit it . There is no rule.
.

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