Elle est allée au marché.
English: She went to the market.
- Language
- French
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Accord et structures emphatiques
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
The 'accord du participe passé avec avoir et être' is a French grammar rule about how the past participle changes (agrees) in gender and number, depending on whether the auxiliary verb is 'avoir' or 'être'.
When to use it
You use this rule when forming the passé composé and other compound tenses in French. The agreement of the past participle depends on which auxiliary verb is used and the position of the direct object.
Key forms
- avoir + participe passé: J'ai mangé, Tu as fini
- être + participe passé: Je suis allé(e), Elles sont parties
Examples
Ils ont mangé les pommes que j'ai achetées.
English: They ate the apples that I bought.
Nous sommes arrivés en retard.
English: We arrived late.
La lettre que tu as écrite est sur la table.
English: The letter that you wrote is on the table.
Elles sont parties tôt.
English: They (feminine) left early.
Tips
- With 'être', the past participle always agrees with the subject in gender and number.
- With 'avoir', the past participle only agrees with the direct object if it comes before the verb.
- Do not add agreement with 'avoir' if the direct object comes after the verb.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs use 'être' as an auxiliary even if they have a direct object (pronominal verbs).
- Certain verbs can use both auxiliaries depending on their meaning (e.g., 'monter', 'sortir').