The Perfect Tense with Etre
Verbs that use Être as the auxiliary in the perfect tense and not avoir are:
M |
Monter |
To go up |
R |
Rester |
To stay |
V |
Venir |
To come |
A |
Aller |
To go |
N |
Naître |
To be born |
S |
Sortir |
To go out |
T |
Tomber |
To fall |
R |
Retourner |
To return |
A |
Arriver |
To arrive |
M |
Mourir |
To die |
P |
Partir |
To leave |
E |
Entrer |
To enter |
D |
Descendre |
To go down/descend |
The past participle of a normal être verbs agrees with its subject in gender and number.
Je suis |
allé(e) |
I went |
Tu es |
venu(e) |
You came |
Il est |
descendu |
He got down |
Elle est |
montée |
She went up |
On est |
entré(e)(s) |
One/We entered |
Nous sommes |
sorti(e)s |
We went out |
Vous etes |
resté(e)(s) |
You (pl) stayed |
Ils sont |
montés |
They(masc.) went up |
Elles sont |
parties |
They (fem.) left |
Agreement is needed if the subject is:
Feminine- add an 'e'
Plural- add an 's'
Both- add 'es'
The past participle does not usually change when it comes after avoir, but agreement is needed when there is a direct object before the verb.
Examples:
Marc a acheté une veste |
Où est la veste qu'il a acheteé? |
Direct Object = La veste |
Je ne l'ai pas vue |
Direct object = La |
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No agreement is needed with an INDIRECT object. |
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Céline? Je l'ai vue hier. |
L'(la) meaning 'her' = direct object |
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Céline? Je lui ai téléphoné hier. |
Lui meaning 'to her' = Indirect object of the verb so no agreement required |
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