A2 Past Tense 22 min read Medium

French Past Tense with Être: The 'House of Movement' (Passé Composé)

Specific French movement verbs use être in the past and change spelling to match the person speaking.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'être' as your auxiliary verb for movement and state-of-being verbs, and remember to agree the past participle with the subject.

  • Use 'être' for the 14-17 verbs of movement (e.g., aller, venir).
  • The past participle must match the subject in gender and number.
  • Add an 'e' for feminine subjects and an 's' for plural subjects.
Subject + (être) + Past Participle (+ e/s/es)

Overview

Mastering the French past tense requires understanding two distinct pathways for forming the Passé Composé: one using the auxiliary verb avoir (to have), and another, less common but equally vital, employing être (to be). While the majority of French verbs pair with avoir, a specific group, primarily verbs of movement, change of state, and all reflexive verbs, uses être. This grammatical bifurcation is not arbitrary; it reflects a core linguistic distinction regarding the nature of the action being described.

The Passé Composé with être fundamentally differs from its avoir counterpart in one critical aspect: past participle agreement. When être serves as the auxiliary, the past participle of the main verb must agree in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. This agreement signifies that the action described by the verb directly affects, or originates from, the subject's state or location, rather than being an action performed on something else.

This rule introduces a significant layer of nuance for learners, moving beyond simple conjugation to a deeper understanding of French morphology. Recognizing the être verbs and consistently applying past participle agreement is a hallmark of developing proficiency in French, signaling an A2 learner's growing grasp of the language's internal logic. It’s a concept that, while initially challenging, unveils a more precise and descriptive capacity within the French language.

How This Grammar Works

In French, the Passé Composé is the most frequently used past tense for expressing completed actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past. It is a compound tense, meaning it consists of two parts: an auxiliary verb (avoir or être) conjugated in the present tense, and the past participle of the main verb. The choice of auxiliary verb is not random; it is dictated by the main verb's semantic category and grammatical behavior.
The être auxiliary is employed with a select group of verbs that are inherently intransitive, meaning they do not take a direct object. These verbs describe actions where the subject undergoes a change of location (aller – to go, venir – to come) or a change of state (naître – to be born, mourir – to die). The action is entirely centered on the subject, reflecting its movement or transformation.
This contrasts with verbs taking avoir, which often imply an action directed towards an object.
The defining characteristic of être verbs in the Passé Composé is the mandatory agreement of the past participle with the subject. Just as an adjective agrees with the noun it modifies, the past participle, when paired with être, acts adjectivally. This means it changes its ending to reflect the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the subject.
For instance, if the subject is feminine singular, you add an -e to the past participle; if it's masculine plural, you add an -s. This overt morphological marking ensures clarity regarding the subject performing the action. Consider Elle est allée (She went) versus Ils sont allés (They went); the added -e and -s are crucial for grammatical correctness, even if often silent in spoken French.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the Passé Composé with être involves three precise steps, ensuring both correct conjugation and proper agreement. This systematic approach allows you to construct grammatically sound sentences by carefully considering the subject and the main verb's past participle.
2
Step 1: Identify the Subject and Conjugate être in the Present Tense.
3
The first element is the subject pronoun (or noun) performing the action. Following this, you must use the correct present tense conjugation of être. Memorizing these forms is fundamental, as être acts as the grammatical foundation for this tense.
4
| Subject | être Conjugation |
5
| :------ | :----------------- |
6
| Je | suis |
7
| Tu | es |
8
| Il/Elle/On | est |
9
| Nous | sommes |
10
| Vous | êtes |
11
| Ils/Elles | sont |
12
For example, Je suis... (I am...) or Nous sommes... (We are...). This establishes the auxiliary structure.
13
Step 2: Form the Past Participle of the Main Verb.
14
The past participle is the immutable core of the main verb's action. Its formation depends on the verb's ending in the infinitive:
15
-er verbs: Drop -er and add -é. (e.g., aller → allé, entrer → entré)
16
-ir verbs: Drop -ir and add -i. (e.g., partir → parti, sortir → sorti)
17
-re verbs: Drop -re and add -u. (e.g., naître → né, paraître → paru - though paraître generally takes avoir).
18
Many common être verbs have regular past participles (e.g., allé, parti). However, some irregular forms exist, such as naître (to be born) which becomes né, and mourir (to die) which becomes mort. You need to commit these to memory as they are integral to these high-frequency verbs.
19
Step 3: Apply Past Participle Agreement with the Subject.
20
This is the most crucial step unique to être verbs. The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. This agreement is typically silent in speech but absolutely essential in writing and for grammatical accuracy. Here's how it works:
21
| Subject Gender/Number | Agreement Rule | Example with partir (to leave) |
22
| :-------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------ |
23
| Masculine Singular | No change to the base past participle. | Il est parti (He left) |
24
| Feminine Singular | Add an -e to the end of the past participle. | Elle est partie (She left) |
25
| Masculine Plural | Add an -s to the end of the past participle. | Ils sont partis (They left) |
26
| Feminine Plural | Add an -es to the end of the past participle. | Elles sont parties (They left) |
27
For instance, if nous refers to a group of women, the participle for aller becomes allées. If vous refers to a single woman in a formal context, it's allée. This systematic agreement ensures that the participle accurately reflects the subject's characteristics, adding a layer of descriptive precision to the sentence.

Conjugation Table

Subject être Conjugation Past Participle (Masculine Singular) Past Participle (Feminine Singular) Past Participle (Masculine Plural) Past Participle (Feminine Plural)
:------- :----------------- :----------------------------------- :---------------------------------- :--------------------------------- :---------------------------------
Je suis allé (if masculine) allée (if feminine)
Tu es allé (if masculine) allée (if feminine)
Il est allé
Elle est allée
On est allé (often default masc. sing.) allée (if on refers to specific fem.) allés (if on refers to group) allées (if on refers to group of fem.)
Nous sommes allés (if masculine or mixed) allées (if feminine)
Vous êtes allé (formal masc. sing.) allée (formal fem. sing.) allés (plural masc. or mixed) allées (plural fem.)
Ils sont allés
Elles sont allées
Subject être Conjugation Past Participle (Masculine Singular) Past Participle (Feminine Singular) Past Participle (Masculine Plural) Past Participle (Feminine Plural)
:------- :----------------- :----------------------------------- :---------------------------------- :--------------------------------- :---------------------------------
Je suis parti (if masculine) partie (if feminine)
Tu es parti (if masculine) partie (if feminine)
Il est parti
Elle est partie \
On est parti (often default masc. sing.) partie (if on refers to specific fem.) partis (if on refers to group) parties (if on refers to group of fem.)
Nous sommes partis (if masculine or mixed) parties (if feminine) \
Vous êtes parti (formal masc. sing.) partie (formal fem. sing.) partis (plural masc. or mixed) parties (plural fem.) \
Ils sont partis \
Elles sont parties

When To Use It

Using être as the auxiliary verb in the Passé Composé is reserved for a specific, non-negotiable set of verbs. These verbs, sometimes colloquially referred to as the "House of Être" or memorized with the DR MRS VANDERTRAMP acronym, all share a common semantic characteristic: they describe an action that involves movement from one place to another, a change in state, or are inherently reflexive. Understanding this underlying logic helps you predict which verbs belong to this category, rather than rote memorization alone.
1. Verbs of Movement (Intransitive):
These verbs indicate a change of location by the subject. They do not take a direct object; the movement is solely about the subject. If you go, you simply go; you don't go something.
  • Aller (to go): Je suis allé(e) au cinéma. (I went to the cinema.)
  • Venir (to come): Tu es venu(e) me voir. (You came to see me.)
  • Arriver (to arrive): Nous sommes arrivé(e)s à l'heure. (We arrived on time.)
  • Partir (to leave): Elle est partie tôt ce matin. (She left early this morning.)
  • Entrer (to enter): Ils sont entrés dans la maison. (They entered the house.)
  • Sortir (to go out, to leave): Vous êtes sorti(e)(s) hier soir ? (Did you go out last night?)
  • Monter (to go up, to climb): Il est monté à l'étage. (He went upstairs.)
  • Descendre (to go down): Elles sont descendues au rez-de-chaussée. (They went down to the ground floor.)
  • Rentrer (to return home, to re-enter): Je suis rentré(e) tard. (I came home late.)
  • Retourner (to return): Nous sommes retourné(e)s à Paris. (We returned to Paris.)
  • Tomber (to fall): Il est tombé dans l'escalier. (He fell on the stairs.)
2. Verbs of Change of State:
These verbs describe a transformation or transition in the subject's condition or existence.
  • Naître (to be born): Elle est née en 2000. (She was born in 2000.)
  • Mourir (to die): Mon grand-père est mort l'année dernière. (My grandfather died last year.)
  • Devenir (to become): Il est devenu médecin. (He became a doctor.)
  • Rester (to stay, to remain): Ils sont restés chez eux. (They stayed at home.)
3. All Reflexive Verbs:
Regardless of their meaning, every reflexive verb (identified by the reflexive pronoun se before the infinitive, e.g., se laver – to wash oneself) forms its Passé Composé with être. This is a non-negotiable rule.
  • Se laver (to wash oneself): Je me suis lavé(e). (I washed myself.)
  • S'habiller (to get dressed): Elle s'est habillée rapidement. (She got dressed quickly.)
  • Se promener (to go for a walk): Nous nous sommes promené(e)s au parc. (We went for a walk in the park.)
When you use these verbs, remember the emphasis on the subject's direct involvement in the action, whether moving or changing. This intrinsic quality is what necessitates être and, consequently, past participle agreement.

Common Mistakes

Even advanced learners occasionally stumble over the Passé Composé with être. Understanding these common pitfalls and their underlying reasons can significantly refine your accuracy and fluency in French.
  1. 1Incorrect Auxiliary Verb Choice: The most frequent error is using avoir instead of être for one of the être verbs. You might hear or mistakenly write J'ai allé instead of Je suis allé(e). This error stems from the fact that avoir is the default auxiliary for most verbs, leading to overgeneralization. The être verbs are a distinct, limited group, and must be treated as such. Always double-check if the verb is one of the 'House of Être' members or reflexive.
  1. 1Forgetting Past Participle Agreement: This is a pervasive mistake, particularly in written French, as the agreement endings (-e, -s, -es) are often silent in spoken language. Forgetting to add e for a feminine subject or s for a plural subject is a common oversight. For example, writing Elle est partie instead of Elle est partie or Ils sont partis instead of Ils sont partis. While spoken communication might remain unaffected, written French requires this precision. The participle must match the subject's gender and number.
  1. 1Confusion with Transitive/Intransitive Monter, Descendre, Sortir, Rentrer: These four verbs can be particularly tricky because they can take either être or avoir depending on whether they are used transitively (with a direct object) or intransitively (without a direct object). This is a nuance many A2 learners struggle with, but it's a critical distinction.
  • With être (intransitive – no direct object): The subject moves itself.
Elle est montée à sa chambre. (She went up to her room.) - No direct object; she herself moved.
  • With avoir (transitive – with a direct object): The subject moves something else.
Elle a monté les valises. (She carried/brought up the suitcases.) - les valises is the direct object.
Similarly:
  • Il est descendu. (He went down.) vs. Il a descendu le colis. (He brought down the package.)
  • Nous sommes sortis. (We went out.) vs. Nous avons sorti le chien. (We took the dog out.)
  • Vous êtes rentrés. (You returned home.) vs. Vous avez rentré la voiture. (You brought the car in.)
Pay close attention to whether the verb has a direct object. If it does, it will use avoir and there will be no subject agreement (though direct object agreement rules with avoir apply, which are a B1/B2 concept).
  1. 1Misapplying Vous Agreement: When addressing one person formally (vous), the agreement should be singular. Only when vous refers to multiple people does the past participle become plural. Forgetting this can lead to errors like Vous êtes allés (plural) when talking to a single individual (Vous êtes allé or Vous êtes allée). Context is key here.
  1. 1Confusing Être Verbs with Verbs of Manner of Movement: Not all verbs that imply movement use être. Verbs describing how you move, rather than a definitive change of location, typically take avoir. For instance, marcher (to walk), courir (to run), voyager (to travel) all use avoir:
  • J'ai marché pendant une heure. (I walked for an hour.)
  • Ils ont couru le marathon. (They ran the marathon.)
The distinction lies in whether the verb expresses a trajectory or a state change, or merely the method of locomotion. Aller implies a destination; marcher describes the act of walking itself.
By being mindful of these specific error patterns, you can develop a more robust understanding and application of être verbs in the Passé Composé, moving towards greater grammatical precision.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Understanding the Passé Composé with être is significantly enhanced by contrasting it with other related French grammatical structures. This helps clarify its specific function and prevents common areas of confusion.
1. Passé Composé with Avoir vs. Être:
This is the primary contrast. While both form the Passé Composé, their auxiliary choice and agreement rules are fundamentally different, reflecting distinct semantic roles.
| Feature | Passé Composé with Avoir | Passé Composé with Être |
| :---------------- | :---------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------- |\
| Auxiliary Verb | avoir (to have) | être (to be) |\
| Verb Types | Most transitive verbs (take a direct object) | Intransitive verbs of movement, change of state, all reflexive verbs |\
| Past Participle Agreement | No agreement with the subject. (Agreement only with a direct object that precedes the verb, a B1/B2 rule). | Always agrees in gender and number with the subject. |\
| Example | J'ai mangé une pomme. (I ate an apple.) | Je suis allé(e) au marché. (I went to the market.) |
The core difference lies in the focus of the action. Avoir verbs typically involve an action done to something else, making the verb transitive. Être verbs describe an action where the subject itself moves or changes state, making the verb intransitive and requiring subject agreement for clarity.
For example, J'ai lu le livre (I read the book) implies an action directed towards le livre, whereas Je suis parti(e) (I left) describes a movement originating from and solely concerning the subject je.
2. Passé Composé vs. Imparfait:
These two past tenses are often contrasted for their usage, not their formation, but it's crucial to distinguish them. While Passé Composé with être (or avoir) describes completed, specific actions in the past, the Imparfait describes ongoing, habitual, or descriptive actions in the past. Imparfait verbs do not use an auxiliary verb or past participle agreement.
  • Passé Composé (completed action): Hier, je suis allée au cinéma. (Yesterday, I went to the cinema – a specific, completed event.)
  • Imparfait (description/ongoing action): Quand j'étais jeune, j'allais souvent au cinéma. (When I was young, I often went to the cinema – a habitual past action.)
They often appear together, with the Imparfait setting the scene and the Passé Composé describing events that interrupt or occur within that scene.
3. Reflexive Verbs in Passé Composé:
It's important to remember that all reflexive verbs use être as their auxiliary in the Passé Composé. This is a non-negotiable rule, regardless of whether the verb is typically an être verb otherwise. This means that past participle agreement with the subject is always mandatory for reflexive verbs.
  • Se laver (to wash oneself): Elle s'est lavée. (She washed herself.)
  • S'habiller (to get dressed): Ils se sont habillés. (They got dressed.)
This makes the reflexive verb category another significant group where être is the auxiliary, reinforcing the concept of actions that directly affect the subject.
By understanding these contrasts, you can more precisely identify when and how to deploy the Passé Composé with être, navigating the complexities of French past tenses with greater confidence.

Real Conversations

Observing the Passé Composé with être in authentic French conversations highlights its natural usage in modern contexts, from casual texts to social media interactions. Notice how agreement is consistently applied, even if often silent in spoken examples.

1. Casual Conversation Between Friends:

Scene: Two friends, Clara and Louis, chatting about their weekend plans.*

C

Clara

Salut Louis ! Tu es sorti ce week-end ? (Hi Louis! Did you go out this weekend?)
L

Louis

Oui, je suis allé(e) au marché dimanche matin. Et toi, tu es restée tranquille ? (Yes, I went to the market Sunday morning. And you, did you stay in?)
C

Clara

Non, mes sœurs et moi, nous sommes allées voir un film. C'était super ! (No, my sisters and I, we went to see a movie. It was great!)
L

Louis

Ah bon ? Je ne suis pas allé(e) au cinéma depuis longtemps. (Oh really? I haven't been to the cinema for a long time.)
O

Observation

* Notice the agreement allée for Clara (feminine) and allé for Louis (masculine). Sommes allées clearly marks the feminine plural subject mes sœurs et moi.

2. Social Media Post Comment Thread:

P

Post

A picture of someone arriving in a new city.*

Marine (Poster): Enfin arrivée à Rome ! Le voyage s'est bien passé. (Finally arrived in Rome! The journey went well.)

Comment 1 (Luc): Super ! Je suis déjà allé là-bas, c'est magnifique. (Great! I've already been there, it's magnificent.)

Comment 2 (Chloé): Profite bien ! Je suis venue l'année dernière, j'ai adoré ! (Enjoy! I came last year, I loved it!)

Comment 3 (Marc): On est partis aussi la semaine dernière, mais pour Lisbonne ! (We also left last week, but for Lisbon!)

O

Observation

* Arrivée (feminine singular) matches Marine. Luc's allé (masculine singular) and Chloé's venue (feminine singular) show correct agreement. Marc uses partis (masculine plural for on referring to a group).

3. Work Email Snippet (Formal/Professional Context):

S

Subject

Compte rendu de réunion*

Bonjour Madame Dubois,

Je suis rentré(e) au bureau après mon rendez-vous client. Le dossier principal est monté en priorité comme convenu.

Cordialement,

[Your Name]

O

Observation

The agreement on rentré(e) indicates the sender's gender. Monté agrees with le dossier principal (masculine singular), showing that the document itself* went up in priority. This illustrates that inanimate subjects also trigger agreement.

These examples demonstrate how être verbs are integrated into everyday communication, emphasizing the importance of consistent and accurate agreement.

Progressive Practice

1

Mastering the Passé Composé with être requires structured and consistent practice. Follow these steps to internalize the rules and develop automatic recall.

2

Memorize the Être Verbs: Start by committing the core list of être verbs to memory. Use the DR MRS VANDERTRAMP acronym as a mnemonic aid: Devenir, Revenir, Monter, Rester, Sortir, Venir, Aller, Naître, Descendre, Entrer, Rentrer, Tomber, Retourner, Arriver, Mourir, Partir. Beyond this, remember that all reflexive verbs also use être.

- Practice: Recite the list daily. Write them down. Create flashcards. Ensure you know the meaning of each verb.

3

Conjugate Être Fluently: The present tense conjugation of être is the auxiliary. You must be able to conjugate it instantly without hesitation.

- Practice: Conjugate être (e.g., Je suis, tu es, il est...) multiple times. Use online drills or apps that focus on être conjugation.

4

Form Past Participles: Practice forming the past participles of the être verbs. Pay special attention to irregular forms like né (naître) and mort (mourir).

- Practice: Write down the infinitive and its past participle for each être verb (aller → allé, partir → parti, venir → venu, naître → né, mourir → mort).

5

Practice Basic Agreement: Begin with simple sentences focusing solely on subject-participle agreement for gender and number.

- Task: Complete the following sentences with the correct past participle, ensuring agreement:

- Elles sont _________ (arriver) hier.

- Mon ami est _________ (partir) en vacances.

- Nous (masculine plural) sommes _________ (aller) au restaurant.

- Tu (feminine singular) es _________ (rentrer) tôt ?

6

Distinguish Être vs. Avoir for Transitive/Intransitive Verbs: Work specifically on monter, descendre, sortir, rentrer to differentiate their usage with être (intransitive) and avoir (transitive).

- Task: Form two sentences for each of these four verbs: one using être and one using avoir (with a direct object). Example: Je suis monté(e). / J'ai monté la valise.

7

Create Your Own Sentences: Write 5-10 sentences describing recent events using various être verbs, ensuring correct auxiliary choice and agreement. Focus on real-life scenarios.

- Example prompts: "Where did you go last weekend?" "What time did you leave home today?" "When were you born?"

8

Identify in Context: Read short French texts, articles, or social media posts. Identify all Passé Composé verbs, determine if they use être or avoir, and check for correct past participle agreement.

- Tip: Look for suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont followed by a past participle, then check the subject for gender and number.

Consistent engagement with these progressive practice steps will solidify your understanding and application of this crucial French grammar rule.

Quick FAQ

Addressing common questions about Passé Composé with être can clarify lingering doubts and reinforce understanding.
Q: Does marcher (to walk) use être?
A: No, marcher uses avoir. While it involves movement, it describes the manner of movement rather than a distinct change of location or state. Verbs like marcher, courir (to run), and voyager (to travel) typically take avoir because they don't imply a fixed trajectory from point A to point B in the same way aller or venir do.
For example: J'ai marché longtemps. (I walked for a long time.)
Q: How do I know if vous requires a singular or plural past participle agreement?
A: The agreement for vous depends entirely on whether it is used formally to address a single person or informally/formally to address multiple people.
  • Single person (formal vous): The participle agrees in gender but remains singular.
  • Madame, vous êtes allée au bureau ? (Madam, did you go to the office?) [Feminine singular]
  • Monsieur, vous êtes allé au bureau ? (Sir, did you go to the office?) [Masculine singular]
  • Multiple people (plural vous): The participle agrees in gender and is plural.
  • Mesdames, vous êtes allées au bureau ? (Ladies, did you go to the office?) [Feminine plural]
  • Messieurs, vous êtes allés au bureau ? (Gentlemen, did you go to the office?) [Masculine plural]
Context is crucial. In spoken French, you often infer from the situation or other cues. In writing, clarity is paramount.
Q: What if the group is mixed gender (e.g., nous or ils)? Which agreement applies?
A: According to traditional French grammar rules, if a group contains both masculine and feminine individuals, the masculine plural form takes precedence. This means you add an -s but not an -e.
  • Mes amis (deux hommes, une femme) sont partis. (My friends left.) [Masculine plural partis]
  • Nous (un homme, une femme) sommes allés à la plage. (We went to the beach.) [Masculine plural allés]
This rule, sometimes colloquially referred to as "le masculin l'emporte" (the masculine wins out), reflects a historical grammatical convention.
Q: Does this être auxiliary rule apply to other past tenses?
A: Yes, the fundamental rule of using être as the auxiliary for specific verbs (movement, change of state, reflexive) and the subsequent past participle agreement applies to other compound tenses that use a past participle. Most notably, it applies to the Plus-que-parfait (pluperfect), which expresses an action completed before another past action. However, for A2 learners, mastering the Passé Composé is the priority.
  • Il était déjà parti quand je suis arrivé. (He had already left when I arrived.)
In contrast, the Imparfait (imperfect) does not use an auxiliary verb, and thus no past participle or agreement, as it describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Q: Are there any liaison rules to remember with être verbs?
A: Yes, liaisons are very common and important for natural-sounding French, especially with être conjugations. A liaison occurs when a silent final consonant of a word is pronounced as the initial sound of the next word, if that word begins with a vowel or a silent h.
  • Nous sommes [z]allés (The s of sommes is pronounced like a z sound before allés)
  • Ils sont [t]arrivés (The t of sont is pronounced like a t sound before arrivés)
  • Vous êtes [z]entrés (The s of êtes is pronounced like a z sound before entrés)
Paying attention to these liaisons will make your spoken French much more fluid and authentic.

Conjugation of 'Aller' (to go)

Subject Être Participle Agreement
Je
suis
allé(e)
Yes
Tu
es
allé(e)
Yes
Il/Elle
est
allé(e)
Yes
Nous
sommes
allé(e)s
Yes
Vous
êtes
allé(e)(s)
Yes
Ils/Elles
sont
allé(e)s
Yes

Meanings

The passé composé is used to describe completed actions in the past. When using 'être' verbs, the past participle functions like an adjective.

1

Movement

Verbs indicating a change of location.

“Je suis allé à Paris.”

“Ils sont venus hier.”

2

Change of State

Verbs indicating a change in life status or condition.

“Elle est née en 1990.”

“Il est mort tragiquement.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Past Tense with Être: The 'House of Movement' (Passé Composé)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Sub + être + Participle
Elle est allée.
Negative
Sub + ne + être + pas + Participle
Elle n'est pas allée.
Question
Être + Sub + Participle?
Est-elle allée ?
Plural
Sub + être + Participle + s
Ils sont allés.
Feminine
Sub + être + Participle + e
Elle est allée.
Reflexive
Sub + se + être + Participle
Elle s'est lavée.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Elle est allée au magasin.

Elle est allée au magasin. (Daily life)

Neutral
Elle est allée au magasin.

Elle est allée au magasin. (Daily life)

Informal
Elle est allée au magasin.

Elle est allée au magasin. (Daily life)

Slang
Elle est partie au magasin.

Elle est partie au magasin. (Daily life)

The House of Movement

Être

Movement

  • Aller To go
  • Venir To come

Change

  • Naître To be born
  • Mourir To die
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Je suis allé à Paris.

I went to Paris.

2

Elle est venue ici.

She came here.

3

Nous sommes partis.

We left.

4

Ils sont arrivés.

They arrived.

1

Marie est née en France.

Marie was born in France.

2

Nous ne sommes pas allés au parc.

We did not go to the park.

3

Est-elle rentrée chez elle ?

Did she go home?

4

Ils sont tombés dans l'escalier.

They fell down the stairs.

1

Elle s'est lavée les mains.

She washed her hands.

2

Ils sont devenus très riches.

They became very rich.

3

Nous sommes montés au sommet.

We went up to the top.

4

Elle est morte en paix.

She died in peace.

1

La décision qu'ils ont prise est arrivée tard.

The decision they made arrived late.

2

Ils sont restés chez eux pendant des jours.

They stayed at home for days.

3

Elle est sortie alors qu'il pleuvait.

She went out while it was raining.

4

Nous sommes revenus sur notre décision.

We went back on our decision.

1

Il est apparu que nous étions perdus.

It appeared that we were lost.

2

Elle est parvenue à ses fins.

She achieved her goals.

3

Ils sont décédés dans l'accident.

They passed away in the accident.

4

La situation est devenue critique.

The situation became critical.

1

Elle est demeurée silencieuse tout le long.

She remained silent the whole time.

2

Il est survenu un problème technique.

A technical problem occurred.

3

Ils sont retombés dans leurs travers.

They fell back into their old ways.

4

Elle est ressortie grandie de cette épreuve.

She emerged stronger from this ordeal.

Easily Confused

French Past Tense with Être: The 'House of Movement' (Passé Composé) vs Passé composé vs Imparfait

Learners mix up completed actions (PC) with ongoing descriptions (Imp).

French Past Tense with Être: The 'House of Movement' (Passé Composé) vs Avoir vs Être

Learners use 'avoir' for all verbs.

French Past Tense with Être: The 'House of Movement' (Passé Composé) vs Transitive vs Intransitive

Verbs like 'monter' can take both.

Common Mistakes

✗

Elle a allée.

✓

Elle est allée.

Movement verbs use être, not avoir.
✗

Elle est allé.

✓

Elle est allée.

Feminine subjects need an 'e'.
✗

Ils est allé.

✓

Ils sont allés.

Wrong conjugation of être.
✗

Il est venu.

✓

Il est venu.

Wait, this is correct, but learners often forget the participle form.
✗

Nous sommes allé.

✓

Nous sommes allés.

Plural subjects need an 's'.
✗

Elle n'est allé pas.

✓

Elle n'est pas allée.

Negative placement is wrong.
✗

Elle est née.

✓

Elle est née.

Correct, but learners often use 'avoir'.
✗

Elle s'est lavé.

✓

Elle s'est lavée.

Reflexive verbs agree with the subject.
✗

Ils sont monté la valise.

✓

Ils ont monté la valise.

Transitive use of 'monter' takes 'avoir'.
✗

Elle est mort.

✓

Elle est morte.

Agreement error.
✗

La maison qu'elle est allée.

✓

La maison où elle est allée.

Relative pronoun error.
✗

Ils sont décédé.

✓

Ils sont décédés.

Agreement error.
✗

Elle est apparu.

✓

Elle est apparue.

Agreement error.
✗

Il est survenu des problèmes.

✓

Il est survenu des problèmes.

Wait, this is correct, but learners often force agreement here.

Sentence Patterns

Je suis ___ à ___.

Elle est ___ en ___.

Nous sommes ___ à ___.

Ils sont ___ par ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Je suis arrivé !

Job Interview common

Je suis né à Lyon.

Travel very common

Nous sommes partis à 8h.

Social Media common

Je suis allé à la plage.

Food Delivery occasional

Le livreur est arrivé.

Formal Letter occasional

Je suis parvenu à cette conclusion.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

The 'E' Rule

Always check the subject. If it's feminine, add an 'e'. If it's plural, add an 's'.
⚠️

Don't use Avoir

Movement verbs hate 'avoir'. Keep them away from each other.
🎯

Memorize the list

Learn the 14 verbs of the 'House of Movement' by heart.
💬

Listen to French

You will hear these verbs constantly in movies and songs.

Smart Tips

Think 'être' immediately.

J'ai allé au parc. → Je suis allé au parc.

Add an 'e' to the end of the participle.

Elle est allé. → Elle est allée.

Add an 's' to the end of the participle.

Ils sont allé. → Ils sont allés.

Use 'être' and agree.

Elle a se lavé. → Elle s'est lavée.

Pronunciation

Ils sont [il-zõ]

Liaison

When the subject is 'ils' or 'elles', the 's' links to the 'est'.

Question

Est-elle allée ? ↗

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'Dr. & Mrs. Vandertramp' to recall the movement verbs.

Visual Association

Imagine a house where every verb is a person moving through doors, windows, and stairs.

Rhyme

If you move or change your state, use être to seal your fate.

Story

Marie was born (naître) in a house. She went (aller) to school, came (venir) home, and fell (tomber) in love. She became (devenir) happy.

Word Web

AllerVenirPartirArriverNaîtreMourirTomberDevenir

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your morning routine using at least 3 movement verbs.

Cultural Notes

The 'House of Movement' is taught in every French school.

Usage is similar, but spoken French may drop the 'ne'.

Standard French rules apply in formal education.

The use of 'être' as an auxiliary for intransitive verbs of movement dates back to Old French.

Conversation Starters

“

Où es-tu allé le week-end dernier ?

“

Quand es-tu né ?

“

Es-tu déjà allé dans un pays francophone ?

“

Comment es-tu devenu passionné par le français ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your journey to school or work today.
Write a short biography of a famous person.
Reflect on a time you changed your mind about something.
Describe a significant life event that changed you.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of être.

Elle ___ allée au cinéma.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est
Elle takes 'est'.
Choose the correct agreement. Multiple Choice

Marie est ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: allée
Marie is feminine singular.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ils est allé au parc.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils sont allés
Ils requires 'sont' and 'allés'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle est allée hier
Standard subject-verb-participle order.
Translate to French. Translation

We (masc.) arrived.

Answer starts with: Nou...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous sommes arrivés
Masculine plural agreement.
Conjugate 'partir'. Conjugation Drill

Elle ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est partie
Partir uses être and agrees.
Match the verb to its participle. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: né
Naître becomes né.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Ils / devenir / riches

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils sont devenus riches
Devenir uses être.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of être.

Elle ___ allée au cinéma.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est
Elle takes 'est'.
Choose the correct agreement. Multiple Choice

Marie est ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: allée
Marie is feminine singular.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ils est allé au parc.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils sont allés
Ils requires 'sont' and 'allés'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

allée / est / elle / hier

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle est allée hier
Standard subject-verb-participle order.
Translate to French. Translation

We (masc.) arrived.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous sommes arrivés
Masculine plural agreement.
Conjugate 'partir'. Conjugation Drill

Elle ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est partie
Partir uses être and agrees.
Match the verb to its participle. Match Pairs

Naître

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: né
Naître becomes né.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Ils / devenir / riches

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils sont devenus riches
Devenir uses être.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Put the words in the correct order Sentence Reorder

est / elle / hier / arrivée / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle est arrivée hier.
Translate to French Translation

We (mixed group) went out.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous sommes sortis.
Choose the correct past participle for 'naître' (to be born) Multiple Choice

Elle est ___ en 2005.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: née
Match the verb to its past participle Match Pairs

Match these verbs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Venir - Venu
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Tu ___ rentré tard ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: es
Correct the agreement Error Correction

Marie et Julie sont parti à Paris.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Marie et Julie sont parties à Paris.
Reorder the sentence Sentence Reorder

ne / suis / pas / je / tombé / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je ne suis pas tombé.
Translate to French Translation

They (fem.) stayed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elles sont restées.
Which one uses 'être'? Multiple Choice

Which verb uses 'être' in the past tense?

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

Vous ___ devenus très forts !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: êtes

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's a movement verb. Historical grammar dictates this.

No, only about 14-17 specific movement/state verbs.

You will be understood, but it's grammatically incorrect.

Yes, if it's transitive (e.g., 'monter la valise').

For these verbs, yes.

Use 'ne' and 'pas' around the auxiliary.

Reflexive verbs also use 'être'.

Yes, it's standard French.

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 low

He ido / Fui

Spanish does not use 'ser' as an auxiliary for past tense.

German high

Ich bin gegangen

German word order is more rigid.

Italian very_high

Sono andato

The list of verbs is almost identical.

Japanese none

Itta (行った)

No auxiliary verbs exist in Japanese.

Arabic none

Dhahabtu (ذهبت)

No auxiliary verbs.

Chinese none

Wǒ qù le (我去了)

No conjugation or auxiliary verbs.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Past Tense with 'to be' (Passé Composé avec être)
Next
French Past Participle Agreement with Être (e/s/es)

Related Videos

Être or Avoir in the Passé Composé in French... French PAST TENSE explained! 8:28 YouTube

Être or Avoir in the Passé Composé in French... French PAST TENSE explained!

Learn French With Alexa
How to build the PASSÉ COMPOSÉ // French conjugation Course // Lesson 20 7:04 YouTube

How to build the PASSÉ COMPOSÉ // French conjugation Course // Lesson 20

The perfect French with Dylane

Related Grammar Rules

A1

The 'Unchangeable' Fait (Faire + Infinitive)

Overview French grammar often presents complexities, especially regarding verb agreement. However, certain structures si...
B1

French Reflexive Agreement: The 'No-Agreement' Exceptions

Overview Mastering French past participle agreement with reflexive verbs is a significant step for B1 learners. While re...
A1

Groups and Crowds: Past Tense Agreement (Participe passé avec collectif)

Imagine you just posted a fire photo on Instagram and `une foule de gens` (a crowd of people) liked it. Did the 'crowd'...
B2

Past-Past Agreement (Plus-que-parfait with COD)

Ever scrolled through your camera roll and realized you'd déjà deleted the best shot? That moment of looking back at an...
A1

Measuring Values: Verbs that never change (coûter, peser, durer)

Ever wondered why some French verbs just refuse to follow the rules, even when you think you've finally mastered the art...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!