Measuring Values: Verbs that never change (coûter, peser, durer)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Verbs like 'coûter', 'peser', and 'durer' describe fixed values and do not change their meaning when used in the past tense.
- Use 'coûter' for price: 'Ça a coûté dix euros.'
- Use 'peser' for weight: 'Le colis a pesé deux kilos.'
- Use 'durer' for time: 'Le film a duré deux heures.'
Overview
Ever wondered why some French verbs just refuse to follow the rules, even when you think you've finally mastered the art of agreement? You spend weeks learning that if a direct object comes before the verb, you must add an e or an s to the past participle. Then, you see a sentence like Les dix euros que ce café m'a coûté and realize there's no s on coûté.
Did the writer make a mistake? Nope. Welcome to the quirky world of measurement verbs.
It is one of those tiny details that makes you sound like a local rather than a textbook. When we talk about how much something weighs, how much it costs, or how long it lasts, the French language decides to keep things simple. It treats the amount not as an 'object' that receives the action, but as a 'measure' that just exists.
It’s like the verb is saying, "I'm just reporting a number, don't make me do extra work with endings."
This rule focuses on a specific group of verbs known as 'verbes de mesure'. These include coûter (to cost), valoir (to be worth), peser (to weigh), mesurer (to measure), and durer (to last). In French, the past participle of these verbs usually stays exactly as it is—invariable.
This means you don't add an e for feminine nouns or an s for plurals, even if the noun comes before the verb in the sentence. Why? Because in these contexts, the noun isn't a direct object.
It's a 'circumstantial complement of measure'. Think of it as the 'how much' rather than the 'what'. If you're texting a friend about how much your new sneakers cost, or complaining about how many hours a boring Zoom meeting lasted, this rule is your best friend.
It saves you from the headache of agreement. Just remember: if it’s about a price, a weight, a distance, or a duration, keep that past participle in its basic masculine singular form. It’s the ultimate grammar life hack for staying chill while speaking French.
How This Grammar Works
passé composé with the auxiliary verb avoir, you normally agree the past participle with the preceding direct object. For example, La pomme que j'ai mangée. However, measurement verbs function differently.Les deux heures que j'ai couru(The two hours I ran).Courustays the same because 'two hours' is the duration, not an object I am 'running' like a race.Les 50 euros que ce jeu a coûté(The 50 euros this game cost).Coûtéstays singular because '50 euros' is the price.
peser to mean 'to have a weight', it's invariable. If you use it to mean 'to put something on a scale', it might agree (but that's a more advanced nuance). For now, think of these verbs as 'state' verbs.Formation Pattern
coûter, valoir, peser, mesurer, or durer.
é, u, or i), regardless of the noun's gender or number.
Conjugation Table
| Verb | Past Participle | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
coûter |
coûté |
Les 20€ que ça a coûté. |
The 20€ it cost. |
valoir |
valu |
Les efforts que ça a valu. |
The effort it was worth. |
peser |
pesé |
Les 5 kilos que j'ai pesé. |
The 5 kilos I weighed. |
mesurer |
mesuré |
Les 2 mètres qu'il a mesuré. |
The 2 meters he measured (tall). |
durer |
duré |
Les minutes qui ont duré. |
The minutes that lasted. |
When To Use It
- Shopping: When talking about the price of those designer jeans on Vinted.
La somme que ces jeans ont coûté. - Fitness: Tracking your progress.
Les kilomètres que j'ai couru.(Wait,couriris also a verb of measure/distance!) - Travel: Measuring your luggage for a Ryanair flight.
Les kilos que ma valise a pesé. - Socializing: Complaining about a long wait for a table.
La demi-heure que nous avons duré...(Actually, we sayL'attente a duré, but you get the point!) - Gaming: Talking about the hours spent on a quest.
Les heures que ce boss a duré.
Les efforts que ce voyage a valu! ✈️ (The effort this trip was worth!). No s on valu, even though efforts is plural.Common Mistakes
avoir agreement rule that they try to apply it everywhere. You see a feminine plural noun like les heures, you see the relative pronoun que, and your brain screams "ADD AN ES!".- Incorrect: ✗
Les trois heures que le film a durées. - Correct: ✓
Les trois heures que le film a duré.
peser can mean 'to have a weight' (measure) or 'to weigh something' (action).- If I weigh 70kg, it's a measure:
Les 70kg que j'ai pesé.(No agreement). - If a butcher weighs a steak, it's an action:
La viande que j'ai pesée.(Agreement! Because the meat is a direct object).
que trick you! It’s a common trap in apps like Duolingo where they test your attention to detail. Just remember: numbers = no agreement. It's the golden rule of measurement.Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Regular Verb:
La pizza que j'ai mangée.Here,pizzais the thing being eaten. It's a COD. We agree. - Measurement Verb:
La fortune que cette pizza a coûté.Here,fortuneisn't being 'costed' like an object; it's the value of the pizza. It's a measure. No agreement.
J'ai mangé quoi?→La pizza. (Object)Ça a coûté combien?→Une fortune. (Measure)
A1 students from the B2 masters. Even though you're just starting, knowing this makes your French sound incredibly clean. It’s like the difference between wearing a suit that fits perfectly versus one that’s a bit too baggy.Quick FAQ
Is it always invariable?
For coûter, valoir, and durer, almost always. They rarely take a direct object.
What about peser?
If you are weighing an object (like a parcel), you agree. If it's just the weight of something, you don't.
Does this apply to être?
No, être always agrees with the subject. This rule is specifically for avoir in the past tense.
Do I need to worry about this in speaking?
Honestly? Most of these sound the same anyway (coûté vs coûtée). But in writing (emails, texts, social media), it makes a huge difference in your perceived level!
Is mesurer common?
Yes, especially for height or room dimensions. Les 2 mètres qu'il a mesuré.
What if I forget?
Don't panic! Even some native speakers get this wrong. But remembering it is a total flex.
Does it apply to vivre or dormir?
Yes! Les années que j'ai vécu (The years I lived) and Les huit heures que j'ai dormi (The eight hours I slept) also follow this 'measure of time' logic. No agreement!
Passé Composé of Measurement Verbs
| Subject | Auxiliary | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
ai
|
coûté/pesé/duré
|
|
Tu
|
as
|
coûté/pesé/duré
|
|
Il/Elle/On
|
a
|
coûté/pesé/duré
|
|
Nous
|
avons
|
coûté/pesé/duré
|
|
Vous
|
avez
|
coûté/pesé/duré
|
|
Ils/Elles
|
ont
|
coûté/pesé/duré
|
Meanings
These verbs express static measurements of price, weight, or duration. They are used to state facts about objects or events.
Price
To have a specific cost.
“Le livre a coûté vingt euros.”
“Ça a coûté cher.”
Weight
To have a specific mass.
“Le bébé a pesé trois kilos.”
“Le sac a pesé dix kilos.”
Duration
To last for a specific time.
“La réunion a duré une heure.”
“Le match a duré longtemps.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
S + a + PP
|
Le film a duré.
|
|
Negative
|
S + n'a pas + PP
|
Le film n'a pas duré.
|
|
Question
|
A-t-il + PP ?
|
A-t-il duré ?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Oui, il a duré.
|
Oui, il a duré.
|
|
Plural
|
Ils ont duré.
|
Ils ont duré.
|
|
Inversion
|
Combien a-t-il coûté ?
|
Combien a-t-il coûté ?
|
Formality Spectrum
Le voyage a duré une période prolongée. (Travel)
Le voyage a duré longtemps. (Travel)
Le voyage a duré une éternité. (Travel)
Le voyage a duré plombes. (Travel)
Measurement Verbs Map
Price
- coûter to cost
Weight
- peser to weigh
Time
- durer to last
Examples by Level
Le café a coûté deux euros.
The coffee cost two euros.
Le sac a pesé cinq kilos.
The bag weighed five kilos.
Le film a duré une heure.
The movie lasted one hour.
Ça a coûté cher.
It cost a lot.
La réunion n'a pas duré longtemps.
The meeting didn't last long.
Combien a pesé le bébé ?
How much did the baby weigh?
Le voyage a duré trois jours.
The trip lasted three days.
Le billet a coûté très cher.
The ticket cost very much.
Il a fallu payer car le colis a pesé trop lourd.
I had to pay because the package weighed too much.
Le concert a duré plus longtemps que prévu.
The concert lasted longer than expected.
Cette réparation a coûté une fortune.
This repair cost a fortune.
La valise a pesé exactement vingt kilos.
The suitcase weighed exactly twenty kilos.
Bien que le film ait été long, il n'a duré que deux heures.
Although the film was long, it only lasted two hours.
Le coût total a pesé lourd sur le budget.
The total cost weighed heavily on the budget.
Le projet a duré toute l'année.
The project lasted all year.
Le prix a coûté cher à l'entreprise.
The price cost the company dearly.
L'incertitude a pesé sur les négociations qui ont duré des mois.
Uncertainty weighed on the negotiations that lasted months.
Le silence a duré une éternité.
The silence lasted an eternity.
Chaque erreur a coûté cher en termes de crédibilité.
Each error cost dearly in terms of credibility.
Le poids de la responsabilité a pesé sur ses épaules.
The weight of responsibility weighed on his shoulders.
La crise a duré si longtemps qu'elle a pesé sur toute une génération.
The crisis lasted so long that it weighed on an entire generation.
Le coût de l'inaction a coûté plus que l'action elle-même.
The cost of inaction cost more than the action itself.
Le souvenir a duré, mais le regret a pesé davantage.
The memory lasted, but the regret weighed more.
La décision a coûté cher à ceux qui ont hésité.
The decision cost those who hesitated dearly.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'to cost' and 'to pay'.
Learners use 'durer' for personal time spent.
Learners use 'peser' for carrying.
Common Mistakes
Le film est duré.
Le film a duré.
Il a coûté-é.
Il a coûté.
La valise a pesé-e.
La valise a pesé.
Ça a duré le temps.
Ça a duré longtemps.
Combien est-ce que ça a pesé ?
Combien a pesé ça ?
Il n'a pas coûté rien.
Il n'a rien coûté.
La réunion a duré deux heures de temps.
La réunion a duré deux heures.
Le prix a pesé sur moi.
Le prix a pesé lourd.
Il a duré pour deux heures.
Il a duré deux heures.
Ça a coûté cherement.
Ça a coûté cher.
La situation a été pesée.
La situation a pesé.
Il a duré pendant toute la journée.
Il a duré toute la journée.
Cela a coûté à lui cher.
Cela lui a coûté cher.
Sentence Patterns
Le ___ a coûté ___ euros.
La valise a pesé ___ kilos.
Le film a duré ___ heures.
Ça a coûté ___ cher.
Real World Usage
Le pantalon a coûté vingt euros.
Ma valise a pesé vingt-trois kilos.
Le film a duré deux heures.
La réunion a duré toute la matinée.
Le concert a duré une éternité ! #concert
La livraison a coûté cinq euros.
Auxiliary Verb
No Agreement
Context Matters
Casual Usage
Smart Tips
Use 'a duré' instead of 'est duré'.
Use 'a coûté' for the item, not the person.
Use 'a pesé' for the object.
Place 'pas' after the auxiliary.
Pronunciation
Final -é
The past participle ending -é is pronounced like the 'ay' in 'day'.
Question intonation
Combien a coûté le livre ? ↑
Rising intonation at the end for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember the 'CDP' trio: Coûter, Durer, Peser. They are the 'Cost, Duration, and Pound' verbs.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale (peser) that shows a price (coûter) and a clock (durer) all frozen in time.
Rhyme
Pour le prix, le poids, ou la durée, le passé est toujours 'avoir' utilisé.
Story
I bought a cake. It cost (coûter) ten euros. It weighed (peser) one kilo. The party lasted (durer) all night.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your last shopping trip using these three verbs.
Cultural Notes
French speakers are very precise about duration and price in formal settings.
In Quebec, you might hear 'ça a coûté cher' used very frequently in casual conversation.
Belgian French often uses these verbs in the same way as standard French, but with a slightly more relaxed tone.
These verbs come from Latin roots: 'costare' (coûter), 'pensare' (peser), and 'durare' (durer).
Conversation Starters
Combien a coûté ton dernier achat ?
Combien a pesé ta valise pour le voyage ?
Combien de temps a duré ton dernier film ?
Qu'est-ce qui a pesé le plus lourd dans ton budget ce mois-ci ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Le film ___ duré deux heures.
Le sac ___ cinq kilos.
Find and fix the mistake:
Le livre est coûté dix euros.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
The trip lasted three days.
Answer starts with: Le ...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Nous ___ (peser) le sac.
A: Combien a coûté le billet ? B: Il ___ dix euros.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesLe film ___ duré deux heures.
Le sac ___ cinq kilos.
Find and fix the mistake:
Le livre est coûté dix euros.
a / duré / Le / longtemps / film
The trip lasted three days.
Match: 1. Coûter, 2. Peser, 3. Durer
Nous ___ (peser) le sac.
A: Combien a coûté le billet ? B: Il ___ dix euros.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
7 exercisesLes efforts que ce travail a ___ (valoir) sont énormes.
coûté / 20 / Les / euros / que / ça / a / .
Regarding the time spent sleeping:
The five kilometers I ran.
La fortune que sa voiture a coûtée est folle.
Match the measurement type:
Les deux kilos que mon bébé a ___ (peser) à la naissance.
Score: /7
FAQ (8)
They are stative verbs, meaning they describe a state rather than an action.
No, they always take 'avoir'.
No, because they use 'avoir' and the direct object follows the verb.
No, these three are regular -er verbs.
Use 'Combien a coûté...?' or 'Combien de temps a duré...?'
Yes, they conjugate normally in the future.
Yes, they are standard in all registers.
You would use the reflexive 'Je me suis pesé'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
costar, pesar, durar
Spanish uses 'haber' as the auxiliary.
kosten, wiegen, dauern
German word order is more flexible.
kakaru, omosa ga aru, tsuzuku
Japanese does not use a past participle system.
kallafa, wazana, istaghraqa
Arabic verb conjugation is root-based.
hua, zhong, chi-xu
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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