The Passé Composé is used for describing the past, punctual events in the past. In the so-called “Chaîne d’Actions” the Passé Composé interrupts background statements in the past.
Examples:
|
French |
English |
Declaration Sentence |
Il a travaillé. |
Er hat gearbeitet. |
Negative Aussagesatz |
Il n’a pas travaillé. |
Er hat nicht gearbeitet. |
Frage |
Est-ce qu’il a travaillé? |
Hat er gearbeitet? |
Formation of the Passé Composé:
The Passé Composé consists of two parts:
- Auxiliary verb - avoir / être - to have / to be
- Paricipe Passé - Past Participle
Usage of the Auxiliary Verb:
- être: verbs of movement and non-movement
- avoir: all other verbs
Forms of Auxiliary Verbs:
avoir - to have
| French | English |
j’ai |
I have |
tu as |
you have |
il / elle / on a |
he / she / it has |
nous avons |
we have |
vous avez |
you have |
ils / elles ont |
they have |
être - to be
| French | English |
je suis |
I am |
tu es |
you are |
il / elle / on est |
he / she / it is |
nous sommes |
we are |
vous êtes |
you are |
ils / elles sont |
they are |
The Participe Passé / Past Participle is the second part of the Passé Composé.
List of some important verbs using “être” for the formation of the Passé Composé:
Infinitive |
Participe Passé / |
English |
aller |
allé |
to go |
arriver |
arrivé |
to arrive |
descendre |
descendu |
to go down |
devenir |
devenu |
to become |
entrer |
entré |
to enter |
monter |
monté |
to get on |
mourir |
mort |
to die |
naître |
né |
to be born |
partir |
parti |
to leave |
rentrer |
rentré |
to come back |
rester |
resté |
to stay |
retourner |
retourné |
to return |
revenir |
revenu |
to come back |
sortir |
sorti |
to go out |
tomber |
tombé |
to fall |
venir |
venu |
to come |
Reflexive Verbs and the Passé Composé
Reflexive Verbs always form the Passé Composé with the Auxiliary Verb “être”.
Example:
Il était fâché, mais finalement il s’est calmé.
When is the Past Participle adjusted?
There is NO Adjustment of the Participe Passé / Past Participle with:
- the Auxiliary Verb “avoir” > elle a écouté
There is AN adjustment of the Participe Passé / Past Participle, with:
- the Auxiliary Verb “être” > elle est tombée
- Reflexive Verbs > elle s’est levée
- Complements (direct object) > elle l’a vue
- Complements (direct object / relative sentence) > la voiture qu’elle a vue
Example:
A verb using “avoir - to have” for the Passé Composé: manger
| French | English |
j’ai mangé |
I have eaten |
tu as mangé |
you have eaten |
il / elle / on a mangé |
he / she / it has eaten |
nous avons mangé |
we have eaten |
vous avez mangé |
you have eaten |
ils / elles ont mangé |
they have eaten |
A verb using “être- to be” for the Passé Composé: aller
| French | English |
je suis allé(e) |
I have gone |
tu es allé(e) |
you have gone |
il est allé |
he / she / it has gone |
nous sommes allé(e)s |
we have gone |
vous êtes allé(e)s |
you have gone |
ils sont allés |
they have gone |
Also read:
French - Le Pronom Possessif - pdf
French - Pronoun - Demonstrative Pronoun - ce, cet, cette, ces
French - Pronoun - Demonstrative Pronoun - celui
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