French Past Participle Agreement with Être (e/s/es)
être in the past, the verb must match the subject like an adjective (e/s/es).
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When using 'être' as an auxiliary verb, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
- Add 'e' for feminine subjects: Elle est allée.
- Add 's' for plural subjects: Ils sont allés.
- Add 'es' for feminine plural subjects: Elles sont allées.
Overview
When you use compound tenses in French, like the passé composé, certain verbs require the auxiliary verb être (to be) instead of avoir (to have). With these verbs, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. This agreement is a cornerstone of French grammar, providing essential clarity and grammatical precision.
Unlike English, where past participles remain invariable (e.g., "gone" for he, she, or they), French participles adapt, functioning much like adjectives. For A2 learners, mastering this rule is crucial for accurate and nuanced communication about past events, especially those involving movement or changes of state.
How This Grammar Works
être is that the participle temporarily sheds its verbal identity and takes on an adjectival role. When être serves as the auxiliary, it does not contribute to the meaning of the action itself; rather, it indicates the tense and allows the past participle to function as a descriptor of the subject. Consequently, the participle must reflect the grammatical properties (gender and number) of the noun or pronoun it modifies.-e for feminine singular, -s for masculine plural, and -es for feminine plural. For example, the past participle of arriver (to arrive) is arrivé.arrivée (pronounced identically); if masculine plural, arrivés; and if feminine plural, arrivées. This system ensures the participle aligns grammatically with the subject, reinforcing the meaning. Elle est arrivée. (She arrived.) Ils sont arrivés. (They arrived.)être. These include a specific set of verbs often memorized as the "Maison d'Être" or "DR MRS VANDERTRAMP" verbs, which denote movement or changes of state, alongside all reflexive verbs. Verbs taking avoir as their auxiliary follow different agreement patterns, which you will typically learn at a later stage.Formation Pattern
être systematically involves a four-step process. Each step builds upon the previous one, ensuring you arrive at the correct form.
Sophie est partie., Sophie is a feminine singular subject.
être: Conjugate the auxiliary verb être in the present tense to match your identified subject. The forms are: je suis, tu es, il/elle/on est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont. For example, with Sophie (feminine singular), être becomes est (Elle est...).
-er (e.g., parler, arriver): drop -er and add -é (parlé, arrivé).
-ir (e.g., finir, partir): drop -ir and add -i (fini, parti).
-re (e.g., vendre, descendre): drop -re and add -u (vendu, descendu).
venir -> venu, naître -> né, mourir -> mort). Ensure you use the correct base form before adding agreement endings.
allé (Masc. Sing.) | Example with parti (Masc. Sing.) |
allé | parti |
-e | allée | partie |
-s | allés | partis |\
-es | allées | parties |
nous (feminine plural). Then, conjugate être: nous sommes. The past participle of arriver is arrivé. Finally, apply the feminine plural ending -es, resulting in arrivées. The full sentence is Nous sommes arrivées.
Conjugation Table
| Subject Pronoun | être (present tense) |
Base Past Participle | Agreement Form | Full Conjugation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :-------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------- | :------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
Je (masculine) |
suis |
allé |
(none) | Je suis allé. (I went - male speaker) |
||
Je (feminine) |
suis |
allé |
-e |
Je suis allée. (I went - female speaker) |
\ | |
Tu (masculine) |
es |
allé |
(none) | Tu es allé. (You went - informal, male) |
\ | |
Tu (feminine) |
es |
allé |
-e |
Tu es allée. (You went - informal, female) |
\ | |
Il |
est |
allé |
(none) | Il est allé. (He went) |
\ | |
Elle |
est |
allé |
-e |
Elle est allée. (She went) |
\ | |
On |
est |
allé |
(contextual) | On est allé(e)(s). (One went / We went - agreement depends on on's meaning) |
\ | |
Nous (m./mixed) |
sommes |
allé |
-s |
Nous sommes allés. (We went - masculine or mixed group) |
\ | |
Nous (feminine) |
sommes |
allé |
-es |
Nous sommes allées. (We went - feminine group) |
\ | |
Vous (m.s.) |
êtes |
allé |
(none) | Vous êtes allé. (You went - formal, one male) |
\ | |
Vous (f.s.) |
êtes |
allé |
-e |
Vous êtes allée. (You went - formal, one female) |
\ | |
Vous (m.pl.) |
êtes |
allé |
-s |
Vous êtes allés. (You went - formal, multiple males/mixed) |
\ | |
Vous (f.pl.) |
êtes |
allé |
-es |
Vous êtes allées. (You went - formal, multiple females) |
\ | |
Ils |
sont |
allé |
-s |
Ils sont allés. (They went - masculine or mixed group) |
\ | |
Elles |
sont |
allé |
-es |
Elles sont allées. (They went - feminine group) |
When To Use It
être is required in two distinct yet interconnected grammatical contexts. Recognizing these scenarios is key to applying the rule correctly.- 1Verbs of Movement and Change of State (The "Maison d'Être" Verbs): This core group of verbs describes actions where the subject physically moves from one place to another, or undergoes a change in its state or condition. They inherently focus on the subject's intrinsic motion or transformation. These verbs are often memorized using the mnemonic "DR MRS VANDERTRAMP(P)":
- Devenir (to become) —
Il est devenu médecin.(He became a doctor.) - Revenir (to come back) —
Nous sommes revenues du voyage.(We (f.) came back from the trip.) - Monter (to go up) —
Elle est montée à l'étage.(She went up to the floor.) - Rester (to stay) —
Vous êtes restés ici.(You (m.pl.) stayed here.) - Sortir (to go out) —
Je suis sortie ce soir.(I (f.) went out tonight.) - Venir (to come) —
Ils sont venus me voir.(They (m.) came to see me.) - Aller (to go) —
Elles sont allées en France.(They (f.) went to France.) - Naître (to be born) —
Je suis née en 2000.(I (f.) was born in 2000.) - Descendre (to go down) —
Les enfants sont descendus.(The children (m.) went down.) - Entrer (to enter) —
Tu es entrée sans frapper.(You (f.) entered without knocking.) - Rentrer (to return home) —
Il est rentré tard.(He returned home late.) - Tomber (to fall) —
La vase est tombée.(The vase (f.) fell.) - Retourner (to return/turn over) —
Elle est retournée à son pays.(She returned to her country.) - Arriver (to arrive) —
Nous sommes arrivées à temps.(We (f.) arrived on time.) - Mourir (to die) —
Le roi est mort.(The king died.) - Partir (to leave) —
Les élèves sont partis.(The students (m.) left.)
repartir (to leave again) or parvenir (to reach), also follow the être rule. A useful distinction for monter, descendre, entrer, sortir, retourner, passer is that when they take a direct object, they switch to avoir. For instance, J'ai monté les valises. (I brought up the suitcases.) versus Je suis monté. (I went up.).avoir with a direct object will come later.- 1All Reflexive Verbs: Any French verb that includes a reflexive pronoun (
me,te,se,nous,vous,se) always usesêtreas its auxiliary verb in compound tenses. Reflexive verbs indicate that the action is performed by the subject upon itself. The reflexive pronoun always precedes the auxiliary verb.
Je me suis lavé les mains.(I washed my hands - male speaker).Elle s'est couchée tôt.(She went to bed early.)Ils se sont vus à la fête.(They (m.) saw each other at the party.)
être and subsequent participle agreement.Common Mistakes
être. Being aware of these pitfalls can significantly accelerate your mastery of the rule.- Ignoring the Silent Endings in Writing: The most pervasive error stems from the fact that the added
-efor feminine singular and-sfor masculine plural often do not change the pronunciation of the past participle. For instance,allé,allée,allés,alléesare typically pronounced identically. Consequently, learners neglect to write these crucial endings. While silent in speech, their omission in writing indicates a lack of grammatical understanding. However, be aware that some irregular participles do change pronunciation:pris(m.s.) versusprise(f.s.) andmort(m.s.) versusmorte(f.s.), where the final consonant is pronounced in the feminine form. Always ensure written agreement, even if unpronounced.
- Confusing
êtreandavoirVerbs: A fundamental error for A2 learners is incorrectly usingêtrewith verbs that should takeavoir, or vice-versa. For example,J'ai alléis incorrect; it must beJe suis allé.. Similarly,J'être mangéis incorrect; it must beJ'ai mangé.. The core solution is rigorous memorization of the "Maison d'Être" list. If a verb is not on that list (or a reflexive verb), assume it takesavoiruntil you learn exceptions.
- Over-agreement with Reflexive Verbs (The Direct Object Rule): While all reflexive verbs use
être, their past participles do not always agree with the subject. This is a common point of confusion. Agreement only occurs if the reflexive pronoun (me,te,se, etc.) functions as the direct object of the verb. If the reflexive verb has a direct object that follows it, the past participle remains in its masculine singular form (no agreement). Elle s'est lavée avant de sortir.(She washed herself before going out.) Here,s'(se) is the direct object: she washed herself. Agreement:lavée(agrees withElle).Elle s'est lavé les mains.(She washed her hands.) Here,les mainsis the direct object: she washed her hands.s'(se) is an indirect object. No agreement:lavéremains masculine singular.
- Inconsistent Agreement with
on: The pronounongrammatically behaves as third-person singular (il/elle est). Therefore, the default past participle agreement is masculine singular:On est allé.(One went / We went - generic). However, in informal French, ifonclearly refers to a specific group, the agreement often follows the gender and number of that group. If two women are speaking, they might sayOn est toutes les deux allées au cinéma.(We both went to the cinema.). Pay attention to context whenonis used in casual settings; in formal writing, stick to masculine singular agreement foron.
- The "Masculine Wins" Rule for Plural Groups: In French grammar, if a group contains both masculine and feminine individuals (or even if there's just one masculine element in a group of many feminine ones), the plural masculine form of the past participle is used. There is no neutral gender. For example, a family composed of parents and children would say
Nous sommes sortis en famille.(We went out as a family.), even if there are more females than males. This grammatical convention is immutable.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
être is significantly enhanced by contrasting it with other patterns in French grammar. This comparison highlights its unique aspects and prevents common confusions.- Contrast with
AvoirAuxiliary: This is the most crucial distinction. The vast majority of French verbs (approximately 90%) useavoiras their auxiliary verb in compound tenses. Whenavoiris the auxiliary, the past participle generally does NOT agree with the subject. Instead, it remains in its masculine singular form by default. J'ai mangé une pomme.(I ate an apple.) –mangéis invariable, regardless of the speaker's gender.Elle a regardé le film.(She watched the film.) –regardéremains masculine singular, despiteEllebeing feminine.Ils ont fini leur travail.(They finished their work.) –finiremains masculine singular.
avoir verbs fundamentally differentiates the two auxiliary systems. The participle with avoir acts more purely as a verbal element, whereas with être, it takes on a strong adjectival quality.- Similarity to Adjective Agreement: The mechanism of past participle agreement with
êtreclosely mirrors the way adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. This parallel is helpful for reinforcing your understanding, as it applies a familiar concept to a new grammatical structure. La maison est blanche.(The house is white.) – The adjectiveblancbecomesblancheto agree with the feminine singular nounmaison.La femme est arrivée hier.(The woman arrived yesterday.) – The past participlearrivébecomesarrivéeto agree with the feminine singular subjectLa femme.
blanche and arrivée follow the same rule: add -e for feminine singular. Recognizing this structural similarity strengthens the idea of the participle as an adjective in this context.- Impersonal
il: Whenilis used impersonally (meaning "it" or "there"), such as inil est arrivé...(it happened that...), the past participlearrivéremains masculine singular. There is no agreement because theildoes not refer to a specific, gendered subject. Il est arrivé un problème.(A problem arose / There was a problem.) –arrivéis masculine singular, asilis impersonal.Il est né un enfant.(A child was born.) –néis masculine singular.
Il est né à Paris. (He was born in Paris.), where il is a personal pronoun, triggering agreement if the subject's gender were known and different (e.g., Elle est née à Paris.).Real Conversations
Past participle agreement with être is not confined to grammar textbooks; it's an indispensable part of everyday French, from casual interactions to formal communications. Observing its use in authentic contexts reinforces its importance and natural integration.
- Texting and Social Media: Even in informal digital communication, where brevity might suggest cutting corners, agreement is largely maintained for clarity. The expectation of grammatical correctness persists.
- Friend A (female): Je suis arrivée ! Tu es là ? (I've arrived! Are you here?)
- Friend B (male): Non, on est partis il y a dix minutes. Désolé ! (No, we left ten minutes ago. Sorry!) – Here, on logically agrees with the plural masculine group implied.
- Social media post: Elles sont devenues célèbres grâce à leur chaîne YouTube. (They (f.) became famous thanks to their YouTube channel.) – The es ending on devenues is essential.
- Announcements and Public Information: Impersonal forms and official messages also rigorously apply the rule, ensuring precision in conveying information.
- App notification: Votre commande est arrivée. (Your order has arrived.) – commande is feminine, so arrivée is correct.
- Airport announcement: Le vol pour Paris est annulé. (The flight for Paris is cancelled.) – This is a passive construction using être, which also triggers past participle agreement. Vol is masculine, hence annulé.
- Shop sign: La boutique est fermée pour cause de travaux. (The shop is closed due to renovations.) – boutique is feminine, so fermée is used.
- Personal Narratives: When recounting past events, especially movements or changes of state, accurate agreement is vital for sounding natural and articulate. It's a hallmark of coherent storytelling.
- Hier, ma sœur et moi, nous sommes allées au cinéma. (Yesterday, my sister and I (both female) went to the cinema.) – allées reflects the feminine plural subject.
- Il est né à Paris en 1990 et y est resté toute sa vie. (He was born in Paris in 1990 and stayed there his whole life.) – Both né and resté agree with the masculine singular Il.
These examples demonstrate that the rule is an integral part of modern French communication, ensuring precision whether describing a physical journey or a life event.
Progressive Practice
Mastering past participle agreement requires deliberate and iterative practice. Approach it systematically, starting with foundational concepts and gradually incorporating more nuanced aspects.
- Foundation Building (A1-A2):
- Memorize the "Maison d'Être" Verbs: Utilize the DR MRS VANDERTRAMPP mnemonic consistently. Write out the list regularly until it becomes second nature. Focus on understanding the meaning category (movement or change of state) rather than just rote memorization.
- Reflexive Verb Drills: Take common reflexive verbs (se lever, se laver, s'habiller, se promener) and conjugate them in the passé composé with all subject pronouns. Pay close attention to the être conjugation and the subsequent participle agreement. For example, Je me suis levé(e)., Tu t'es levé(e).
- Subject Identification: When reading or listening, make it a conscious habit to identify the subject's gender and number before considering the verb form. This pre-analysis primes your brain to anticipate and apply the correct agreement.
- Dictation Practice: Have someone read sentences containing être verbs aloud. Your task is to write them down, ensuring correct participle agreement. This forces you to consider the silent -e and -s.
- Application and Reinforcement (A2+):
- Sentence Construction: Create your own sentences using a diverse range of être verbs and reflexive verbs. Start with simple sentences and progressively add more detail. For example: Je suis rentré(e). → Hier soir, je suis rentré(e) tard à la maison parce que j'étais fatigué(e).
- Error Correction Exercises: Actively seek out French texts (short stories, online articles) and identify instances of the passé composé with être. Mentally, or physically, verify the agreement for accuracy. This active engagement helps you internalize correct patterns and spot common errors. Try to explain why an agreement is correct or incorrect.
- Listening and Speaking with Focus: When listening to native French speakers, try to identify contexts where the final consonant of a past participle might be pronounced in the feminine form (e.g., mort vs. morte, pris vs. prise). When speaking, make a conscious effort to select the correct participle form, even if the ending is silent. Over time, this becomes intuitive.
- Advanced Nuance (B1+):
- Direct Object Rule for Reflexives: Once confident with basic agreement, consciously practice reflexive verbs with and without following direct objects. Construct sentences to distinguish between Elle s'est lavée. and Elle s'est lavé les mains.. This precision marks a higher level of fluency.
- Contextual on: Practice using on in informal sentences, deliberately adjusting the past participle agreement to logically match the implied group's gender and number (e.g., On est allées ensemble au concert. for a group of females).
Consistent, focused practice across these stages will embed the rule into your linguistic intuition, making correct agreement an automatic process.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Is the agreement ending always silent?
No. While the -e and -s endings often do not change the pronunciation of the past participle, especially with regular -é participles, some irregular participles do have distinct pronunciations for their different forms. For instance, pris (taken, masculine singular) ends with a silent s, but prise (taken, feminine singular) pronounces the s sound. Similarly, mort (dead, masculine singular) has a silent t, whereas morte (dead, feminine singular) pronounces the t. Even when silent, the written agreement is paramount for grammatical correctness and clarity in French.
- Q: What if
vousrefers to only one person?
If vous is used as a formal singular form (e.g., addressing a superior or an unfamiliar adult), the past participle agrees with the singular gender of the person you are addressing. For example, if you are speaking to a female, you would say Vous êtes venue ? (Did you (f.s.) come?). If you are speaking to a male, you would say Vous êtes venu ?. The choice of vous does not negate the agreement with the actual person's gender and number.
- Q: Why does French have this rule, but English doesn't?
This rule reflects the deeper grammatical structure of French, where past participles, when used with être, fundamentally take on an adjectival function. Historically, many languages, including Old English, had more extensive inflections for verbs and adjectives. While English has largely shed such inflections, French retained them for these specific constructions. This grammatical precision helps to clarify the relationship between the subject and the action, especially in complex sentences, and is an integral part of the language's elegant system of agreement.
- Q: Does this agreement rule apply to all past tenses?
Yes, this agreement rule applies to all compound tenses that use être as an auxiliary verb. This includes the passé composé (the most common past tense you'll encounter at A2), but also the plus-que-parfait (pluperfect), futur antérieur (future perfect), and conditionnel passé (conditional perfect). The principle of agreement remains consistent across all these tenses.
- Q: How can I effectively remember all the "Maison d'Être" verbs?
Beyond the DR MRS VANDERTRAMPP mnemonic, try to understand the common semantic categories these verbs fall into: verbs of movement (e.g., aller, venir, partir, arriver, monter, descendre, entrer, sortir, retourner, tomber) and verbs of change of state (e.g., naître, mourir, devenir, rester). Creating personal flashcards, practicing conjugating them orally, and constructing your own sentences will solidify them. Consistent exposure through reading and listening also makes them feel more natural over time.
Agreement Patterns for 'Aller' (to go)
| Subject | Être | Participle | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Je (m)
|
suis
|
allé
|
None
|
|
Je (f)
|
suis
|
allée
|
+e
|
|
Il
|
est
|
allé
|
None
|
|
Elle
|
est
|
allée
|
+e
|
|
Nous (m)
|
sommes
|
allés
|
+s
|
|
Nous (f)
|
sommes
|
allées
|
+es
|
|
Ils
|
sont
|
allés
|
+s
|
|
Elles
|
sont
|
allées
|
+es
|
Meanings
This rule dictates that when the auxiliary verb 'être' is used in compound tenses (like the passé composé), the past participle must reflect the gender and number of the subject.
Movement/State Change
Used with verbs of motion or state change (Dr. & Mrs. Vandertramp).
“Il est tombé.”
“Elle est tombée.”
Reflexive Verbs
Used with reflexive verbs where the subject acts upon itself.
“Elle s'est lavée.”
“Ils se sont lavés.”
Passive Voice
Used when the subject receives the action.
“La porte est fermée.”
“Les fenêtres sont fermées.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + être + P.P.
|
Elle est partie.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + ne + être + pas + P.P.
|
Elle n'est pas partie.
|
|
Question
|
Être + Subj + P.P.?
|
Est-elle partie ?
|
|
Plural
|
Subj + sont + P.P. + s
|
Ils sont partis.
|
|
Feminine
|
Subj + est + P.P. + e
|
Elle est partie.
|
|
Feminine Plural
|
Subj + sont + P.P. + es
|
Elles sont parties.
|
Formality Spectrum
Elle est arrivée. (Standard usage)
Elle est arrivée. (Standard usage)
Elle est arrivée. (Standard usage)
Elle est arrivée. (Standard usage)
The Être Agreement Tree
Masculine
- Singular No change
- Plural +s
Feminine
- Singular +e
- Plural +es
Examples by Level
Il est allé.
He went.
Elle est allée.
She went.
Ils sont allés.
They went.
Elles sont allées.
They (f) went.
Marie est partie tôt.
Marie left early.
Nous sommes arrivés hier.
We arrived yesterday.
Elle n'est pas venue.
She didn't come.
Est-il tombé ?
Did he fall?
Elle s'est lavée les mains.
She washed her hands.
La lettre est écrite.
The letter is written.
Ils se sont rencontrés.
They met each other.
Nous sommes restées à la maison.
We (f) stayed home.
Les décisions ont été prises.
The decisions were made.
Elle s'est sentie fatiguée.
She felt tired.
Ils sont devenus célèbres.
They became famous.
La porte est restée ouverte.
The door remained open.
Toutes les options ont été envisagées.
All options were considered.
Elles se sont succédé sans bruit.
They followed one another silently.
La maison est située au centre.
The house is located in the center.
Nous sommes parvenus à un accord.
We reached an agreement.
Les lois ont été promulguées.
The laws were enacted.
Elle est née dans une petite ville.
She was born in a small town.
Ils sont morts en héros.
They died as heroes.
La situation est devenue critique.
The situation became critical.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'être' for all past actions.
Learners try to agree with the object.
Learners forget the reflexive pronoun.
Common Mistakes
Elle est allé
Elle est allée
Ils sont allé
Ils sont allés
Elle a allée
Elle est allée
Elles sont allé
Elles sont allées
Elle est mangée
Elle a mangé
Nous sommes parti
Nous sommes partis
Est-elle venu ?
Est-elle venue ?
Elle s'est lavé
Elle s'est lavée
La porte est fermés
La porte est fermée
Ils se sont lavé
Ils se sont lavés
Les décisions ont été pris
Les décisions ont été prises
Elles se sont succédé
Elles se sont succédé
La maison est situé
La maison est située
Sentence Patterns
Je suis ___ (aller) à la plage.
Ils sont ___ (partir) très tôt.
Elle est ___ (devenir) une grande artiste.
Nous sommes ___ (rester) chez nous.
Real World Usage
Je suis rentré(e) !
J'ai été formé(e) à...
Nous sommes arrivés à Tokyo.
Votre commande est préparée.
Je suis tombé(e) amoureux/amoureuse.
La décision est prise.
Check the subject
Don't over-agree
The 'e' rule
Spoken vs Written
Smart Tips
Pause and check the subject's gender.
Remember they are always 'être' verbs.
Double-check every agreement.
Don't worry about the 'e' sound, just focus on the written form.
Pronunciation
Silent endings
The 'e', 's', and 'es' are silent. 'Allé', 'allée', 'allés', 'allées' all sound the same!
Rising for questions
Est-elle allée ↑ ?
Indicates a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember the 'E' for 'Être' and 'E' for 'Elle'. If it's Être, the subject is the key!
Visual Association
Imagine a mirror behind the subject. When they use 'être', the past participle looks in the mirror and copies the subject's gender and number.
Rhyme
With être you must agree, add an e or an s for all to see.
Story
Marie is a traveler. She is always 'être'. She packs her suitcase (the participle). If she is alone, she packs an 'e'. If she travels with friends, she packs an 's'.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about your day using 'être' verbs and check your agreements.
Cultural Notes
Agreement is strictly enforced in writing. In casual speech, it is often ignored, but you should know it for exams.
Similar to France, but spoken French can be more relaxed regarding agreement.
Standard French is used in education, so strict adherence is expected in formal settings.
The agreement rule stems from the Latin past participle, which functioned as an adjective.
Conversation Starters
À quelle heure es-tu arrivé(e) ?
Est-ce que tu es parti(e) en vacances ?
Es-tu déjà tombé(e) amoureux/amoureuse ?
Comment es-tu devenu(e) si bon(ne) en français ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Elle est ___ (partir).
Ils sont ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Elle est allé.
Il est tombé.
Do we agree with 'avoir' verbs?
A: Es-tu venu(e)? B: Oui, je suis ___.
est / arrivée / elle / tard.
Elles (naître) en 1990.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesElle est ___ (partir).
Ils sont ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Elle est allé.
Il est tombé.
Do we agree with 'avoir' verbs?
A: Es-tu venu(e)? B: Oui, je suis ___.
est / arrivée / elle / tard.
Elles (naître) en 1990.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesMa mère est _____ (entrer) dans la chambre.
Nous (mixte) sommes _____ à la plage.
Elle s'est habillé rapidement.
sont / revenues / filles / Les / tard / .
They (f) died.
Match the subjects and verbs:
Ma photo est _____ (devenir) virale !
Le train est _____ à l'heure.
Mes amies sont sorti sans moi.
You (formal, female) arrived.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Because the subject is feminine. It's like an adjective.
No, only those that use 'être' as an auxiliary.
You must learn the gender of the subject.
Yes, reflexive verbs always use 'être'.
Rarely in writing, but sometimes in speech.
They don't agree with the subject.
Write sentences about your day.
It takes practice, but it's very logical.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Ser/Estar + participio
Spanish doesn't use 'ser' for motion verbs in the past.
Sein + Partizip II
German participles are invariant.
Verb-ta form
Japanese verbs are gender-neutral.
Verb conjugation
Arabic agreement is built into the verb root.
Verb + le
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Be + past participle
English has no gender/number agreement.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Past Tense with 'to be' (Passé Composé avec être)
Overview In French, the **`passé composé`** is a fundamental past tense, employed to describe completed actions or event...
Past Participle Agreement (le, la, les)
Overview The agreement of past participles with direct objects in French, particularly when those objects precede the ve...
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