DR MRS VANDERTRAMP Flashcards

DR MRS VANDERTRAMP Overview

• DR MRS VANDERTRAMP is an acronym used in French grammar to help remember certain verbs that use "être" as the auxiliary verb in the passé composé tense.

Verb Definitions

• descendre: Means "to go down." Indicates a movement to a lower position.
• rester: Translates to "to stay," indicating remaining in a place without moving.
• monter: Can mean "to come back" or "to climb," depending on context, emphasizing vertical movement.
• mourir: Means "to die," referring to the end of life.
• sortir: Translates as "to go out," indicating leaving a place, often for social or recreational purposes.
• venir: Means "to come," referring to movement toward the speaker's location.
• arriver: Means "to arrive," signifying reaching a destination.
• naître: Translates to "to be born," the moment of entering life.
• devenir: Means "to become," indicating a change in status or condition.
• entrer: Translates as "to enter," focusing on moving into a place.
• retourner: Means "to return," indicating coming back to a previous location.
• tomber: Translates as "to fall," involving a downward movement due to gravity.
• revenir: Means "to come back" with an added emphasis on returning to a specific point.
• aller: Translates as "to go," a general term for moving from one place to another.
• monter: As previously noted, also means "to climb," emphasizing an ascent.
• partir: Means "to leave," indicating departing from a location.
• passer: Translates as "to pass by," indicating movement past a point without stopping.

Usage Note

• Learning these verbs helps in constructing sentences in the passé composé, identifying when to use "être" as the auxiliary verb.