A1 Past Tense 18 min read Easy

The Past Participle of 'Coûter': Money vs. Metaphor

Agree coûté with the preceding object only when 'cost' describes metaphorical sacrifices, not literal monetary prices.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'a coûté' for both literal prices and figurative efforts in the past.

  • Use 'a coûté' for literal money: 'Le livre a coûté dix euros.'
  • Use 'a coûté' for effort: 'Ce projet m'a coûté beaucoup d'énergie.'
  • Agreement: 'Coûter' does not change with the object in the passé composé.
Subject + a coûté + (price/effort)

Overview

The French verb coûter, meaning "to cost," presents a specific challenge regarding the agreement of its past participle, coûté. While many past participles conjugated with avoir remain invariable, coûter exhibits a nuanced behavior depending on its semantic role. This distinction is crucial for accurate and sophisticated French expression.

Fundamentally, the agreement of coûté hinges on whether it describes a literal, quantifiable expense or a figurative, non-material consequence. When coûter refers to a monetary price, weight, or duration, its past participle typically stays invariable. However, when it signifies a metaphorical cost, such as effort, pain, or sacrifice, and is accompanied by a preceding direct object, agreement is required.

Mastering this rule demonstrates a deeper understanding of French grammatical subtleties.

For example, La robe a coûté 100 euros. (The dress cost 100 euros.) uses an invariable coûté because it expresses a literal price. In contrast, Les efforts que ce projet m'a coûtés étaient immenses. (The efforts that this project cost me were immense.) requires agreement (coûtés) because les efforts represents a figurative sacrifice and precedes the verb.

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Avoir (présent) Past Participle Example Translation
:-------------- :---------------- :-------------- :-------------------------------------------- :--------------------------------------------
J'ai ai coûté J'ai coûté cher à mes parents. I cost my parents a lot (of money/trouble).
Tu as as coûté Tu as coûté une fortune. You cost a fortune.
Il/Elle/On a a coûté La réparation a coûté 500 euros. The repair cost 500 euros.
Nous avons avons coûté Nous avons coûté du temps au professeur. We cost the teacher time.
Vous avez avez coûté Vous avez coûté de l'énergie. You cost energy.
Ils/Elles ont ont coûté Ils ont coûté un prix élevé. They cost a high price.

How This Grammar Works

The agreement rule for coûter's past participle is fundamentally tied to its grammatical classification and whether it takes a direct object (COD). You must distinguish between two primary usages of coûter:
  1. 1Intransitive Verb of Measure: When coûter refers to a literal price, a specific quantity, a weight, or a duration, it acts as an intransitive verb. In this function, the numeric value or measurement (cinq euros, deux heures, trois kilos) is considered an adverbial complement of measure, not a direct object. Consequently, the past participle coûté remains invariable in such contexts, regardless of where the measure appears in the sentence.
  • Example: Les 50 euros que ce livre a coûté étaient bien dépensés. (The 50 euros that this book cost were well spent.) Here, 50 euros is a measure, so coûté does not agree.
  1. 1Transitive Verb with a Direct Object: When coûter is used figuratively to mean "to cause," "to require," "to entail," or "to bring about" a non-material consequence (e.g., effort, pain, joy, tears, problems, reputation), it functions as a transitive verb. In these instances, the non-material consequence is considered a direct object. If this direct object precedes the auxiliary verb avoir, then the past participle coûté must agree in gender and number with that direct object. This follows the standard French rule for past participles conjugated with avoir.
  • Example: La joie que ce succès m'a coûtée était immense. (The joy that this success cost me was immense.) Here, la joie (feminine singular) is the direct object of coûtée (in the sense of "caused"), and it precedes the verb, hence the agreement coûtée.
The presence of the relative pronoun que often signals a preceding direct object. If que refers to a non-material entity or consequence that coûter has "caused" or "required," you should anticipate agreement. This grammatical mechanism allows French to draw a clear linguistic line between a simple statement of expense and an expression of a deeper, often emotional, impact.

Formation Pattern

1
Applying the correct agreement for coûter's past participle involves a clear decision-making process based on its usage. Follow these steps to determine whether and how to make coûté agree:
2
Identify the meaning of coûter:
3
Is it expressing a literal monetary value, weight, or duration? (e.g., "The car cost 20,000 euros." / "The package weighed 2 kilos." / "The film lasted two hours.")
4
If yes: The past participle coûté is invariable. Stop here.
5
Is it expressing a figurative consequence, effort, pain, or sacrifice? (e.g., "The efforts this job required." / "The tears this breakup caused.")
6
If yes: Proceed to step 2.
7
Locate the Direct Object (COD): Ask "quoi ?" (what?) or "qui ?" (who?) of the verb coûter (in its figurative sense). The answer is your direct object.
8
Example: Les sacrifices que cela m'a coûtés. (Cela m'a coûté quoi ? Les sacrifices.)
9
Determine the position of the COD:
10
Does the direct object appear after the auxiliary verb avoir?
11
If yes: The past participle coûté is invariable. (e.g., Ce projet m'a coûté des sacrifices.) Stop here.
12
Does the direct object precede the auxiliary verb avoir? (This typically occurs with relative pronouns like que, direct object pronouns like le, la, les, or interrogative pronouns.)
13
If yes: Proceed to step 4.
14
Identify the gender and number of the preceding COD:
15
Is it masculine or feminine? Singular or plural?
16
Apply the agreement to coûté:
17
Masculine Singular COD: coûté (no change)
18
Feminine Singular COD: coûtée (add -e)
19
Masculine Plural COD: coûtés (add -s)
20
Feminine Plural COD: coûtées (add -es)
21
Example: La liberté que cette décision lui a coûtée était chère payée. (La liberté is feminine singular COD, preceding a coûtée, so coûtée.)
22
Example: Ces ennuis, il les a coûtés à tout le monde. (les refers to ces ennuis, masculine plural COD, preceding a coûtés, so coûtés.)

When To Use It

Employing the agreed form of coûté is essential for expressing non-material consequences with precision and emotional resonance. This usage elevates your French beyond simply stating facts to conveying deeper impacts and sacrifices. You will primarily use agreement in situations where coûter signifies "to cause," "to require," or "to entail" something intangible that is explicitly mentioned as a preceding direct object.
Consider these common contexts for agreement:
  • Effort, Time, or Energy Expended: When discussing the personal investment or sacrifice made to achieve something. This goes beyond mere duration; it implies the cost in terms of personal resources.
  • Les longues nuits que ce travail m'a coûtées se sont multipliées. (The long nights that this work cost me multiplied.) - Les longues nuits (feminine plural) are the sacrificed hours.
  • Emotional or Psychological Impact: To describe pain, tears, joy, fear, or other emotional states that an event or situation has brought about.
  • Les larmes que cette nouvelle lui a coûtées ont coulé sans fin. (The tears that this news caused her flowed endlessly.) - Les larmes (feminine plural) are the direct, emotional consequence.
  • Loss of Intangibles: When an action or event has resulted in the loss of abstract concepts like trust, reputation, or peace of mind.
  • La confiance que ce mensonge m'a coûtée ne sera jamais retrouvée. (The trust that this lie cost me will never be regained.) - La confiance (feminine singular) is the lost asset.
  • Problems or Difficulties Caused: To highlight the complications or troubles that an action or decision has generated for someone or something.
  • Les problèmes que cette mauvaise gestion a coûtés à l'entreprise étaient évitables. (The problems that this poor management caused the company were avoidable.) - Les problèmes (masculine plural) are the direct negative outcomes.
Conversely, you must strictly adhere to the invariable coûté when referring to literal measures. If you are stating a price (Ça a coûté 10 euros.), a weight (Le colis a coûté 2 kilos.), or a duration (La réunion a coûté 3 heures.), the past participle remains unchanged. The distinction between a numerical value and a qualitative consequence is paramount.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently stumble with coûter's past participle due to oversimplification or misidentification of grammatical roles. Recognizing these typical errors is a significant step toward achieving accuracy.
  • Universal Invariability: The most prevalent mistake is assuming coûté never agrees, treating it always as an intransitive verb of measure. This leads to omitting agreement in all figurative contexts.
  • Incorrect: Les efforts que j'ai coûté pour réussir.
  • Correct: Les efforts que j'ai coûtés pour réussir. (Les efforts is masculine plural, direct object preceding.)
  • Confusing Measure with Direct Object (Time and Money): While le temps (time) or amounts of money often act as measures, they can also be direct objects when representing expended effort or sacrificed funds. The nuance is critical.
  • Measure (invariable): Les trois heures que le vol a coûté étaient longues. (The three hours the flight lasted were long.) - trois heures is a duration.
  • Figurative (agreed): Les heures que j'ai coûtées à l'étude ont payé. (The hours I sacrificed/spent on studying paid off.) - les heures here signify expended effort, a direct object.
  • Similarly for money: L'argent que j'ai coûté pour ce voyage était nécessaire. (The money I spent on this trip was necessary.) - l'argent as a quantity is a measure, hence invariable. It is very rare for l'argent to be a figurative direct object for coûter.
  • Agreement with Indirect Objects: Past participle agreement with avoir only occurs with preceding direct objects. Learners sometimes mistakenly make coûté agree with an indirect object pronoun (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur).
  • Incorrect: Les problèmes que nous lui avons coûtées. (Assuming lui is the cause for agreement.)
  • Correct: Les problèmes que nous lui avons coûtés. (les problèmes is masculine plural direct object, lui is an indirect object.)
  • Mistaking the Subject for the COD: Always ensure the noun triggering agreement is indeed the direct object of coûter, not the subject or another grammatical element. Apply the "quoi ?" or "qui ?" test to confirm.
By carefully analyzing whether coûter implies a quantifiable measurement or a qualitative consequence, and by strictly applying the rule of preceding direct object, you can avoid these common pitfalls.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

The dual behavior of coûter is not isolated within French grammar; it reflects a broader pattern observed in certain other verbs of measure. Most notably, peser (to weigh) and valoir (to be worth, to earn) follow the exact same principle, exhibiting invariability for literal measurements and agreement for figurative direct objects that precede the verb. Understanding this family of verbs helps solidify the underlying grammatical concept.
| Verb | Literal Usage (Invariable Past Participle) | Figurative Usage (Agreed Past Participle) |
| :------ | :------------------------------------------------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| coûter| Les 200 euros que la montre a coûté. | Les soucis que cette décision m'a coûtés. |
| | (The 200 euros that the watch cost.) | (The worries that this decision caused me.) |
| peser | Les 80 kilos qu'il a pesé il y a un an. | Les paroles qu'il a pesées avant de parler. |
| | (The 80 kilos that he weighed a year ago.) | (The words that he weighed/considered before speaking.) |
| valoir| La somme qu'il a valu n'était pas énorme. | Les compliments que son travail lui a valus. |
| | (The amount that it was worth was not huge.) | (The compliments that his work earned him.) |
For valoir, the past participle is valu. Like coûter and peser, valu remains invariable when referring to a literal value or price. However, it agrees when referring to non-material benefits or consequences that were "earned" or "brought about," provided the direct object precedes it.
For example, La peine que cela m'a value. (The trouble that that caused me.) - La peine is feminine singular.
This consistent pattern across these verbs reveals a linguistic tendency in French: while quantifiable measures are treated as adverbial complements (hence, no agreement), abstract consequences or impacts can be reified as direct objects, thus triggering past participle agreement. This grammatical choice allows for a precise distinction between objective measurement and subjective experience or causation, adding a layer of expressiveness to the language.

Real Conversations

The agreement of coûter's past participle is not confined to formal writing; it is a feature of natural, nuanced French in everyday communication. While some very informal speech might occasionally omit it, its correct use is a hallmark of clear and precise expression across various registers, from casual texts to professional interactions.

- Texting/Social Media (Informal): Even in quick, informal exchanges, French speakers who value clarity will often apply the rule, especially for emphasis.

- Cette semaine, les heures de sommeil que ça m'a coûtées sont innombrables 😩. (This week, the hours of sleep that it cost me are countless 😩.) - Les heures de sommeil (feminine plural) represent a significant personal sacrifice.

- Le stress que cet examen m'a coûté était fou ! (The stress that this exam cost me was crazy!) - Le stress (masculine singular) is a metaphorical cost, hence coûté (no additional suffix needed for masculine singular).

- Professional/Academic Context (Formal): In professional settings, accuracy is expected, and correct agreement reinforces credibility.

- Les ressources que cette initiative a coûtées sont justifiées par les résultats. (The resources that this initiative cost are justified by the results.) - Les ressources (feminine plural) are the direct object in a figurative sense (required).

- Il a souligné les efforts que l'équipe avait coûtés pour respecter les délais. (He emphasized the efforts that the team had made to meet the deadlines.) - Les efforts (masculine plural) are the sacrifices made.

- Everyday Conversation: Native speakers intuitively make this distinction, often without conscious thought, depending on whether they are quantifying or expressing impact.

- A: Alors, ton nouveau projet, ça avance ? (So, your new project, is it progressing?)

- B: Oui, mais les migraines que ça m'a coûtées, je ne te dis pas ! (Yes, but the migraines it caused me, I can't tell you!) - Les migraines (feminine plural) are the figurative consequence.

- A: Combien a coûté ton billet d'avion pour les vacances ? (How much did your plane ticket for the holidays cost?)

- B: Oh, ça a coûté cher ! Environ 800 euros. (Oh, it cost a lot! About 800 euros.) - cher and 800 euros are measures, so invariable coûté.

This nuance allows for a richer and more precise conveyance of meaning, distinguishing between simple financial transactions and deeper personal or systemic impacts. It is a subtle but powerful aspect of advanced French expression.

Progressive Practice

1

Mastering the agreement of coûter's past participle involves a gradual progression from recognizing the rule to actively applying it with confidence. Structure your practice to build from basic understanding to nuanced application.

2

A1-A2 Level: Foundations and Recognition

3

- Meaning Identification: Begin by distinguishing between literal and figurative uses of coûter. Present sentences and ask: Is coûter referring to a price/measure, or a consequence/sacrifice? This is the most crucial first step.

4

- Example: Le voyage a coûté 1000 euros. (Literal) vs. Les soucis que le voyage m'a coûtés. (Figurative).

5

- Simple Choice Exercises: Provide sentences with a blank and offer two choices: coûté (invariable) or an agreed form (coûtée, coûtés, coûtées). Focus on clear examples with obvious literal or figurative meanings.

6

- La joie que ce cadeau m'a ______ était immense. (Choices: coûté / coûtée) - Correct: coûtée.

7

- Combien cette voiture a-t-elle ______ ? (Choices: coûté / coûtée) - Correct: coûté.

8

B1-B2 Level: Application and Nuance

9

- Sentence Transformation: Take sentences where coûter is used literally and challenge yourself to rephrase them to use coûter figuratively, ensuring correct agreement. Do the reverse too.

10

- Original: Le chef a coûté une fortune à l'entreprise. (Literal: The chef cost the company a fortune.)

11

- Transformation: La réputation que ce chef a coûtée à l'entreprise est immense. (Figurative: The reputation that this chef earned the company is immense.) - Note: coûter can also mean to earn in a figurative positive sense.

12

- Gap-Filling with Pronouns: Practice sentences where the direct object is a pronoun (le, la, les) or a relative pronoun (que), forcing you to consider the preceding element.

13

- Les efforts, je les ai ______ cher. (coûtés)

14

- C'est une expérience que j'ai ______ chère. (coûtée)

15

- Error Correction: Analyze sentences containing common mistakes related to coûter's agreement. Identify the error and explain why it is incorrect, then provide the correct form.

16

C1-C2 Level: Mastery and Critical Analysis

17

- Contextual Writing: Write short narratives, emails, or social media posts where you deliberately use coûter in both its literal and figurative senses, demonstrating full control over agreement rules.

18

- Literary/Media Analysis: Read French articles, short stories, or watch interviews. Pay close attention to how coûter is used. Can you identify instances of agreement and non-agreement? Why did the author/speaker choose that form? This trains your ear and eye to recognize the nuances in authentic contexts.

19

Consistent self-correction and a focus on the underlying meaning—literal measure versus figurative consequence—are your most effective tools for mastering this subtle but important aspect of French grammar.

Quick FAQ

To address common points of confusion and reinforce your understanding, here are frequently asked questions about coûter's past participle agreement.
  • Q: Does coûté ever agree if the direct object is placed after the verb?
  • A: No, never. The fundamental rule for past participles conjugated with avoir is that agreement with the direct object only occurs when that direct object precedes the auxiliary verb. If the direct object follows the verb, the past participle remains invariable.
  • Example: Ce projet a coûté beaucoup d'efforts à l'équipe. (beaucoup d'efforts comes after, so no agreement.)
  • Q: How do I handle le temps (time) or les heures (hours)? Do they require agreement?
  • A: This is a tricky area due to the dual nature of coûter. If le temps or les heures refers to a duration (how long something lasted or took), then coûter is considered a verb of measure, and its participle remains invariable.
  • Example (duration): Les trois heures que la réunion a coûté étaient longues. (The three hours the meeting lasted were long.)
  • However, if le temps or les heures signifies expended effort, sacrifice, or personal investment, it can be treated as a figurative direct object, requiring agreement if it precedes.
  • Example (sacrifice): Les heures que j'ai coûtées à l'apprentissage du piano ont porté leurs fruits. (The hours I sacrificed/invested in learning piano bore fruit.) The context is crucial for this distinction.
  • Q: Can indirect objects (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur) trigger past participle agreement for coûter?
  • A: Absolutely not. In French, past participle agreement with avoir is only governed by a preceding direct object (COD). Indirect objects, while important for meaning, never cause the past participle to agree.
  • Example: Les problèmes que cela lui a coûtés sont nombreux. (lui is indirect; agreement is with les problèmes - masculine plural.)
  • Q: Is this rule still actively used by native speakers, or is it considered old-fashioned?
  • A: The rule is definitely still active and correct. While in very casual, rapid spoken French, some individuals might occasionally skip the agreement, especially for complex sentences, it is rigorously applied in formal writing, journalism, literature, and careful, considered speech. Using it correctly is a strong indicator of linguistic precision and mastery.
  • Q: Besides peser and valoir, are there other common verbs that follow this same "literal vs. figurative" agreement pattern with their past participle?
  • A: While coûter, peser, and valoir are the most prominent and frequently cited examples, the principle of distinguishing literal measure from figurative direct object can sometimes apply to other verbs that can take on both roles. However, these three verbs are the core examples where this specific agreement nuance is consistently taught and applied.
This comprehensive overview should equip you with the necessary understanding to navigate the complexities of coûter's past participle agreement effectively.

Passé Composé of Coûter

Subject Auxiliary Participle Full Form
Je
ai
coûté
J'ai coûté
Tu
as
coûté
Tu as coûté
Il/Elle
a
coûté
Il/Elle a coûté
Nous
avons
coûté
Nous avons coûté
Vous
avez
coûté
Vous avez coûté
Ils/Elles
ont
coûté
Ils/Elles ont coûté

Meanings

The verb 'coûter' in the passé composé expresses that something required a specific price or amount of effort in the past.

1

Monetary cost

The price paid for an item or service.

“Le billet a coûté vingt euros.”

“La maison a coûté une fortune.”

2

Effort or sacrifice

The figurative cost of time, energy, or emotional sacrifice.

“Cela m'a coûté beaucoup de temps.”

“Cette décision a coûté cher à mon équipe.”

Reference Table

Reference table for The Past Participle of 'Coûter': Money vs. Metaphor
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + a + coûté
Le repas a coûté cher.
Negative
Subj + n'a pas + coûté
Le repas n'a pas coûté cher.
Question
Est-ce que + Subj + a + coûté
Est-ce que le repas a coûté cher ?
Inversion
A + Subj + coûté
Le repas a-t-il coûté cher ?
Figurative
Subj + m'a + coûté
Cela m'a coûté du temps.
Plural
Subj (pl) + ont + coûté
Les billets ont coûté cher.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
La voiture a représenté un coût important.

La voiture a représenté un coût important. (Talking about a car purchase.)

Neutral
La voiture a coûté cher.

La voiture a coûté cher. (Talking about a car purchase.)

Informal
La voiture a coûté un bras.

La voiture a coûté un bras. (Talking about a car purchase.)

Slang
La caisse a coûté une blinde.

La caisse a coûté une blinde. (Talking about a car purchase.)

Uses of Coûter

Coûter

Literal

  • Argent Money
  • Prix Price

Figurative

  • Temps Time
  • Énergie Energy
  • Sacrifice Sacrifice
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Examples by Level

1

Le café a coûté deux euros.

The coffee cost two euros.

2

Le livre a coûté cher.

The book cost a lot.

3

Ça a coûté combien ?

How much did it cost?

4

Le billet n'a pas coûté cher.

The ticket didn't cost much.

1

Cette voiture m'a coûté une fortune.

This car cost me a fortune.

2

La réparation a coûté beaucoup d'argent.

The repair cost a lot of money.

3

Est-ce que le voyage a coûté cher ?

Did the trip cost a lot?

4

Cela a coûté beaucoup d'énergie.

That cost a lot of energy.

1

Le projet a coûté plus cher que prévu.

The project cost more than expected.

2

Cette erreur a coûté sa place au directeur.

This mistake cost the director his job.

3

L'organisation a coûté beaucoup de temps.

The organization cost a lot of time.

4

Il a dit que le dîner a coûté trop cher.

He said the dinner cost too much.

1

La restructuration a coûté cher à l'entreprise.

The restructuring cost the company dearly.

2

Le manque de préparation a coûté la victoire.

The lack of preparation cost the victory.

3

Cela a coûté des efforts considérables.

That cost considerable efforts.

4

Le silence a coûté cher à la famille.

The silence cost the family dearly.

1

Cette décision politique a coûté cher au gouvernement.

This political decision cost the government dearly.

2

L'indifférence a coûté la vie à beaucoup.

Indifference cost many their lives.

3

Le développement a coûté des années de recherche.

The development cost years of research.

4

Tout ce luxe a coûté une fortune.

All this luxury cost a fortune.

1

L'ambition démesurée a coûté sa réputation au ministre.

Excessive ambition cost the minister his reputation.

2

Ce choix a coûté cher en termes de capital humain.

This choice cost dearly in terms of human capital.

3

La négligence a coûté la réussite du projet.

Negligence cost the success of the project.

4

Il a réalisé ce que cela lui a coûté.

He realized what it cost him.

Easily Confused

The Past Participle of 'Coûter': Money vs. Metaphor vs Coûter vs Payer

Learners mix up the actor of the verb.

The Past Participle of 'Coûter': Money vs. Metaphor vs Passé Composé Agreement

Learners add 'e' to 'coûté' because of the subject.

The Past Participle of 'Coûter': Money vs. Metaphor vs Avoir vs Être

Learners think 'coûter' uses 'être'.

Common Mistakes

✗

La robe a coûtée

✓

La robe a coûté

Coûter does not agree with the subject.
✗

J'ai coûté le livre

✓

Le livre a coûté cher

Coûter is not used with the person as the subject.
✗

Le livre est coûté

✓

Le livre a coûté

Use 'avoir', not 'être'.
✗

Le livre a couté

✓

Le livre a coûté

Missing the circumflex accent.
✗

Ça m'a coûté cher à moi

✓

Cela m'a coûté cher

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Le prix a coûté 10 euros

✓

Le livre a coûté 10 euros

The item costs, not the price.
✗

Il a coûté beaucoup de l'argent

✓

Il a coûté beaucoup d'argent

Use 'de', not 'du'.
✗

La décision a été coûté

✓

La décision a coûté

Passive voice is incorrect here.
✗

Cela a coûté à moi beaucoup

✓

Cela m'a beaucoup coûté

Pronoun placement.
✗

Il a coûté cher à le projet

✓

Il a coûté cher au projet

Contraction 'à + le = au'.
✗

Le projet a coûté d'être difficile

✓

Le projet a coûté cher en efforts

Awkward phrasing.
✗

Cela a coûté la vie à lui

✓

Cela lui a coûté la vie

Pronoun placement.
✗

Il a coûté cher en termes de le temps

✓

Il a coûté cher en termes de temps

Remove 'le'.

Sentence Patterns

Le/La ___ a coûté ___ euros.

Cela m'a coûté beaucoup de ___.

Ce projet a coûté cher à ___.

La négligence a coûté ___ à ___.

Real World Usage

Shopping constant

Ce sac a coûté 50 euros.

Texting very common

Ça a coûté cher le resto !

Job Interview common

Ce projet a coûté cher en ressources.

Travel common

Le billet a coûté une fortune.

Food Delivery App common

La livraison a coûté 2 euros.

Social Media occasional

Ce choix a coûté ma réputation.

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💡

Don't agree!

Remember that 'coûté' never changes. Don't add an 'e' or 's'.
⚠️

Auxiliary verb

Always use 'avoir'. Never use 'être'.
🎯

Figurative use

Use it for time and energy, not just money.
💬

Slang

Use 'coûter un bras' to sound like a native.

Smart Tips

Use 'coûter' for the price, not the act of paying.

J'ai coûté 10 euros. → Le livre a coûté 10 euros.

Use 'coûter' to show the sacrifice.

J'ai passé beaucoup de temps. → Cela m'a coûté beaucoup de temps.

Place 'ne' and 'pas' around 'avoir'.

Le livre a pas coûté cher. → Le livre n'a pas coûté cher.

Use 'Combien' at the start.

Ça a coûté combien ? → Combien cela a-t-il coûté ?

Pronunciation

/ku.te/

Coûté

The 'û' is a long 'u' sound, and the final 'é' is a closed 'e'.

Question

Ça a coûté combien ? ↗

Rising intonation at the end for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Coûter costs you money, so remember the 'o' for 'oops, I spent money'.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant price tag hanging on a clock. The clock represents time, and the price tag represents money. Both are 'coûté'.

Rhyme

Pour le prix ou pour l'effort, 'a coûté' est toujours fort.

Story

Marc bought a car. It cost him a lot of money. It also cost him a lot of time to fix it. He said: 'La voiture a coûté cher et a coûté mon temps.'

Word Web

PrixArgentTempsCherEffortSacrifice

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about things you bought last week using 'a coûté'.

Cultural Notes

French people often use 'coûter un bras' (cost an arm) to express something is very expensive.

In Quebec, you might hear 'coûter cher' used frequently in casual conversation.

Belgian French uses 'coûter' similarly to France, but with specific regional slang for money.

Derived from the Latin 'constare', meaning 'to stand at' (a price).

Conversation Starters

“

Combien a coûté ton dernier voyage ?

“

Qu'est-ce qui t'a coûté beaucoup de temps récemment ?

“

Penses-tu que ce projet a coûté trop cher à l'entreprise ?

“

Quel a été le coût humain de cette décision ?

Journal Prompts

Describe a purchase you made last month.
Write about a difficult task you finished.
Reflect on a professional mistake.
Analyze the 'cost' of a recent social trend.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form.

Le livre ___ (coûter) 10 euros.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a coûté
Use 'avoir' + 'coûté'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La robe a coûté cher.
No agreement for 'coûter'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Le voyage est coûté 500 euros.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le voyage a coûté 500 euros.
Use 'avoir'.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Le repas a coûté cher.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le repas n'a pas coûté cher.
Negative structure.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Combien ___ le billet ? B: Il a coûté 20 euros.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a coûté
Correct auxiliary.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

coûté / cher / a / le / projet

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le projet a coûté cher.
Correct word order.
Sort by usage. Grammar Sorting

Which is figurative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Cela m'a coûté du temps.
Figurative usage.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Coûter un bras - Expensive
Slang vs standard.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form.

Le livre ___ (coûter) 10 euros.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a coûté
Use 'avoir' + 'coûté'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La robe a coûté cher.
No agreement for 'coûter'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Le voyage est coûté 500 euros.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le voyage a coûté 500 euros.
Use 'avoir'.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Le repas a coûté cher.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le repas n'a pas coûté cher.
Negative structure.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Combien ___ le billet ? B: Il a coûté 20 euros.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a coûté
Correct auxiliary.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

coûté / cher / a / le / projet

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le projet a coûté cher.
Correct word order.
Sort by usage. Grammar Sorting

Which is figurative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Cela m'a coûté du temps.
Figurative usage.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match the phrase.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Coûter un bras - Expensive
Slang vs standard.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

La peine que cela m'a _____ était trop grande.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: coûtée
Translate to French Translation

The three euros it cost me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les trois euros que ça m'a coûté.
Pick the correct figurative use Multiple Choice

Which one shows correct agreement?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les sacrifices que j'ai coûtés.
Fix the agreement Error Correction

Les nuits blanches que j'ai coûté.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les nuits blanches que j'ai coûtées.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

m'a / que / l'énergie / coûtée / cela

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: l'énergie que cela m'a coûtée
Match the noun to the correct participle Match Pairs

Match these pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: match_all
Fill the blank Fill in the Blank

La fortune que ce château a _____ est colossale.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: coûté
Identify the figurative sentence Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses 'coûter' figuratively?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les vies que cela a coûtées.
Translate: The energy it cost me. Translation

Comment dit-on 'The energy it cost me'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'énergie que ça m'a coûtée.
Spot the mistake in this travel blog post Error Correction

Les péripéties que ce voyage nous a coûté étaient folles.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les péripéties que ce voyage nous a coûtées étaient folles.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, 'coûter' is invariant in the passé composé.

No, always use 'avoir'.

No, it is also used for time, effort, and sacrifice.

Use 'Combien est-ce que ça a coûté ?'

'Payer' is the action of paying; 'coûter' is the price itself.

Yes, 'coûter un bras' means it's very expensive.

It is a historical remnant of an 's' that used to be in the word.

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal contexts.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Costar

Spanish uses 'costar' as a verb that agrees with the subject, unlike French.

German high

Kosten

German 'kosten' is a weak verb, while French 'coûter' has specific spelling rules.

English moderate

To cost

English 'cost' does not change in the past; French adds 'avoir'.

Japanese partial

Kakeru (かかる)

Japanese grammar is agglutinative, while French is analytic.

Arabic moderate

Takallafa (تكلف)

Arabic conjugation is root-based and highly complex compared to French.

Chinese low

Huafei (花费)

Chinese uses particles for aspect, not verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
No-Agreement Rule: Prices and Weights (coûter, peser, valoir)
Next
French Impersonal Verbs: The 'No Agreement' Rule (Participe passé)

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