Le Passé Composé Quiz

Le Passé Composé - Past Composed Tense

• Used for actions completed in the past.
• Formed using an auxiliary verb (avoir or être) + past participle.
• Example: J'ai mangé (I ate).

Irregular Past Participles

• Some verbs have irregular past participles, not following typical -er, -ir, -re patterns.
• Memorize these irregular forms:
  • Avoir (to have): eu
  • Être (to be): été
  • Faire (to do): fait
  • Prendre (to take): pris
  • Voir (to see): vu
  • Vouloir (to want): voulu
  • Mettre (to put): mis
  • Dire (to say): dit
  • Pouvoir (to be able to): pu
  • Savoir (to know): su

Le Passé Composé with Être (to be)

• Some verbs use être as the auxiliary verb instead of avoir.

• Primarily used with reflexive verbs and verbs of "movement" or "change of state".

  • Includes verbs like devenir, revenir, monter, rester, sortir, venir, aller, naître, descendre, entrer, retourner, tomber, rentrer, arriver, mourir, partir.

• Past participle agrees in gender and number with subject when using être:

  • Masculine singular: no change
  • Feminine singular: add -e
  • Masculine plural: add -s
  • Feminine plural: add -es

• Example: Elle est allée (She went), Ils sont partis (They left).

Reflexive Verbs in Passé Composé

• Used for reflexive actions (e.g., se laver - to wash oneself).
• Always use être as the auxiliary verb.
• Past participle agrees with the subject unless a direct object follows the verb.
• Example: Je me suis lavé(e) (I washed myself); Elle s’est lavée (She washed herself). BUT: Elle s’est lavé les mains (She washed her hands).

Quick Tips

• Identify if the verb uses avoir or être.
• Memorize irregular past participles and specific verbs using être.
• Reflexive verbs always use être as the auxiliary verb.
• Pay attention to participle agreement when using être.