Accents in future tense

G B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Accents in future tense

Shouldn't there be an accent above the 'i' in apparaitront? 

I was marked incorrect for writing "apparaîtront".

Asked 4 years ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour G,

Since the 1990 spelling reform, both spellings are acceptable and correct.

It has now been fixed to mark them both as correct answers.

Merci et bonne journée!

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Either form of spelling is still acceptable and in usage, but French spelling reforms have made the circonflexe optional in many words including the -aitre (-âitre) verbs- the more modern form of spelling is without it. Unfortunately in the dictations it appears that only 1 'best' answer is available, and others are subject to correction, even if they appear on the list of alternative answers. (At least, I have seen this on occasions)

Anita P.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I checked the spelling out in the Bible aka “Bescherelle, La conjugaison pour tous” and it quotes “apparaîtront”. 

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bescherelle en ligne presents both, orthographe 'traditionnelle' and orthographe 'rectifiée'. The circonflexe is optional in most now situations but not all - for instance it is retained in passé simple in 'nous' and 'vous' forms.

G B. asked:

Accents in future tense

Shouldn't there be an accent above the 'i' in apparaitront? 

I was marked incorrect for writing "apparaîtront".

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