The Past Tense (Passé Composé)
The passé composé is a French past tense that is used to indicate actions that have been completed in the past. It is one of the most common past tenses in French, and it's essential to master it for effective communication.
WHERE IS PASSÉ COMPOSE USED ?
1. Specific Actions in the Past:
To describe actions that happened at a specific point in time and were completed.
Example: "Hier, j'ai visité le musée." (Yesterday, I visited the museum.)
2. Series of Completed Actions:
To narrate a sequence of completed actions in the past.
Example: "Il est entré, a pris un livre, et s'est assis." (He entered, took a book, and sat down.)
3. Actions with Defined Time Periods:
To describe actions that occurred over a specific period of time in the past.
Example: "Elle a travaillé ici pendant cinq ans." (She worked here for five years.)
4. Recent Past:
To discuss actions that were completed in the recent past.
Example: "Nous avons déjà mangé." (We have already eaten.)
5. Changes in State or Condition:
To indicate changes in state or condition.
Example: "Il est devenu médecin." (He became a doctor.)
6. Completed Actions with Results in the Present:
To describe past actions that have present results.
Example: "J'ai perdu mes clés." (I lost my keys – and I still don’t have them.)
7. Interruption of Ongoing Actions:
To indicate an action that interrupts another action in the imperfect tense.
Example: "Je lisais quand il a appelé." (I was reading when he called.)
Reflexive Verbs and Motion Verbs:
Reflexive verbs and verbs of motion (aller, venir, monter, descendre, etc.) use the passé composé with être.
Example: "Je me suis levé tôt ce matin." (I got up early this morning.)
Example: "Elle est allée à Paris." (She went to Paris.)
PASSÉ COMPOSE WITH AVOIR
The passé composé with avoir is formed by combining the present tense of the auxiliary verb avoir with the past participle of the main verb.
Auxiliary Verb: Avoir Conjugation
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | ai |
| Tu | as |
| Il/Elle/On | a |
| Nous | avons |
| Vous | avez |
| Ils/Elles | ont |
Past Participle Formation
-ER Verbs: Replace -er with -é.
Example: parler -> parlé
-IR Verbs: Replace -ir with -i.
Example: finir -> fini
-RE Verbs: Replace -re with -u.
Example: vendre -> vendu
Examples:
-ER Verb (Parler)
Je parlé (I spoke)
Example: "J'ai parlé avec lui." (I spoke with him.)
-IR Verb (Finir)
Tu fini (You finished)
Example: "Tu as fini tes devoirs." (You finished your homework.)
-RE Verb (Vendre)
Il vendu (He sold)
Example: "Il a vendu sa voiture." (He sold his car.)
Agreement:
The past participle does not usually agree with the subject when avoir is the auxiliary verb, unless there is a preceding direct object.
Example: "Les pommes que j'ai mangées" (The apples that I ate - agreement with "pommes")
PASSÉ COMPOSÉ WITH ÊTRE
Using the passé composé with être is essential for certain verbs, particularly those involving motion or reflexive actions. Here's how to form and use it:
Formation:
The passé composé with être is formed by combining the present tense of the auxiliary verb être with the past participle of the main verb. Unlike with avoir, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
Être Conjugation:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | suis |
| Tu | es |
| Il/Elle/On | est |
| Nous | sommes |
| Vous | êtes |
| Ils/Elles | sont |
Agreement:
The past participle must agree with the subject in gender and number.
Example: "Elle est allée" (She went – singular feminine)
Example: "Ils sont venus" (They came – plural masculine)
Example: "Elles sont parties" (They left – plural feminine)
Common Verbs Using Être:
These are often referred to as the "Dr. & Mrs. Vandertramp" verbs, an acronym to help remember them. These verbs generally involve motion or change of state.
Devenir (to become)
Example: "Elle est devenue médecin." (She became a doctor.)
Revenir (to come back)
Example: "Ils sont revenus hier soir." (They came back last night.)
Monter (to go up)
Example: "Il est monté dans sa chambre." (He went up to his room.)
Rester (to stay)
Example: "Nous sommes restés à la maison." (We stayed at home.)
Sortir (to go out)
Example: "Elle est sortie avec ses amis." (She went out with her friends.)
Venir (to come)
Example: "Je suis venu à la fête." (I came to the party.)
Aller (to go)
Example: "Tu es allé au cinéma." (You went to the cinema.)
Naître (to be born)
Example: "Il est né en 1990." (He was born in 1990.)
Descendre (to go down)
Example: "Ils sont descendus du train." (They got off the train.)
Entrer (to enter)
Example: "Nous sommes entrés dans la salle." (We entered the room.)
Rentrer (to return)
Example: "Elle est rentrée tard." (She returned late.)
Tomber (to fall)
Example: "Il est tombé de l'arbre." (He fell from the tree.)
Retourner (to return)
Example: "Ils sont retournés au bureau." (They returned to the office.)
Arriver (to arrive)
Example: "Je suis arrivé à l'heure." (I arrived on time.)
Mourir (to die)
Example: "Elle est morte en 2001." (She died in 2001.)
Partir (to leave)
Example: "Ils sont partis tôt." (They left early.)
Reflexive Verbs:
All reflexive verbs use être as the auxiliary verb and also require agreement in gender and number.
Example: "Je me suis levé(e) tôt." (I got up early.)
Example: "Ils se sont mariés en juin." (They got married in June.)
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