Introduction
In French, the passé composé is a commonly used past tense that helps describe completed actions. The choice between "avoir" and "être" as auxiliary verbs is crucial for proper conjugation. Most verbs use "avoir," but some require "être," leading to changes in agreement and meaning.
Avoir in Passé Composé
Most French verbs use "avoir" as the auxiliary verb in the passé composé. The structure is:
- [Subject] + avoir (conjugated) + past participle
Examples
- J'ai mangé – I ate.
- Tu as fini – You finished.
- Elle a vu – She saw.
Être in Passé Composé
"Être" is used as the auxiliary verb for a specific group of verbs, primarily those indicating motion or change of state, as well as all reflexive verbs. The structure is:
- [Subject] + être (conjugated) + past participle
The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
Examples
- Il est allé – He went.
- Elle est née – She was born.
- Nous sommes partis – We left.
- Elles sont arrivées – They arrived.
Common Verbs Using "Être"
Many verbs that take "être" can be remembered with the acronym DR & MRS VANDERTRAMP:
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Devenir | to become |
| Revenir | to come back |
| Monter | to go up |
| Rester | to stay |
| Sortir | to go out |
| Venir | to come |
| Arriver | to arrive |
| Naître | to be born |
| Descendre | to go down |
| Entrer | to enter |
| Rentrer | to return |
| Tomber | to fall |
| Retourner | to return |
| Aller | to go |
| Mourir | to die |
| Partir | to leave |
Reflexive Verbs
All reflexive verbs use "être" in the passé composé. The past participle agrees with the subject.
Examples
- Je me suis lavé – I washed myself.
- Tu t’es réveillé – You woke up.
- Elle s’est habillée – She got dressed.
Comparison: "Avoir" vs "Être"
To illustrate the difference between using "avoir" and "être," here are examples of the same verb in both forms:
With Avoir:
- J'ai monté la valise. (I carried the suitcase up.)
- Here, "monter" is used transitively with a direct object, so "avoir" is the auxiliary.
With Être:
- Je suis monté. (I went up.)
- In this case, "monter" indicates movement, and it takes "être" as the auxiliary.
Key Differences Between "Avoir" and "Être"
- Avoir: Used with most verbs; the past participle generally does not change based on the subject.
- Example: Il a parlé (He spoke).
- Être: Used with certain verbs (often indicating motion or state change) and all reflexive verbs; the past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number.
- Example: Elle est sortie (She went out).
- Ils sont sortis (They went out).
Conclusion
Choosing between "avoir" and "être" in the passé composé is essential for correct French grammar. While "avoir" is the default auxiliary for most verbs, "être" is required for verbs of motion, change of state, and all reflexive verbs. Always remember that with "être," the past participle must agree with the subject in gender and number.