Editing Language/French/Grammar/Agreement-of-past-participle-if-direct-object-is-placed-before
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[[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]] | [[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]] | ||
<div | <div style="font-size:200%">Agreement of the past participle if the direct object is placed before</div> | ||
[Changed] | [Changed] | ||
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
=== Past participle=== | === Past participle=== | ||
The past participle is a verb form with several roles. It’s essential in the creation of compound verb tenses/moods and the passive voice, and it can also be used as an adjective. The French past participle usually ends -é, -i, or -u, and is equivalent to -ed or -en in English. | The past participle is a verb form with several roles. It’s essential in the creation of compound verb tenses/moods and the passive voice, and it can also be used as an adjective. The French past participle usually ends -é, -i, or -u, and is equivalent to -ed or -en in English. | ||
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=== Auxilary === | === Auxilary === | ||
There are only 2 auxiliaries in French: "avoir" or "être". As "avoir", "être" is used to form compound tenses for some verbs. | There are only 2 auxiliaries in French: "avoir" or "être". As "avoir", "être" is used to form compound tenses for some verbs. | ||
==No Agreement when using "avoir"== | ==No Agreement when using "avoir"== | ||
The past participle never agrees with the subject when using the "avoir" auxilary. | The past participle never agrees with the subject when using the "avoir" auxilary. | ||
*Elle '''a''' rencontr'''é''' une célébrité. | *Elle '''a''' rencontr'''é''' une célébrité. | ||
<blockquote>She met a celebrity</blockquote> | <blockquote>She met a celebrity</blockquote> | ||
*Ils '''ont''' fin'''i''' la bouteille. | *Ils '''ont''' fin'''i''' la bouteille. | ||
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==Agreement when using "avoir"== | ==Agreement when using "avoir"== | ||
However, the past participle agrees with the direct object when it is placed before the verb. For compound tenses, the past participle of verbs conjugated with "avoir" generally agrees with the unstressed direct object pronouns which precede: | However, the past participle agrees with the direct object when it is placed before the verb. For compound tenses, the past participle of verbs conjugated with "avoir" generally agrees with the unstressed direct object pronouns which precede: | ||
*J'<nowiki/>'''ai''' vu Céline: Je l''''ai''' vu'''e''' | *J'<nowiki/>'''ai''' vu Céline: Je l''''ai''' vu'''e''' | ||
<blockquote>I saw Céline: I saw her</blockquote> | <blockquote>I saw Céline: I saw her</blockquote> | ||
*Les pompiers '''avaient''' repéré les pyromanes: Les pompiers '''les''' '''avaient''' repéré'''s''' | *Les pompiers '''avaient''' repéré les pyromanes: Les pompiers '''les''' '''avaient''' repéré'''s''' | ||
<blockquote>The firefighters had found the arsonists: The firefighters had found them</blockquote> | <blockquote>The firefighters had found the arsonists: The firefighters had found them</blockquote> | ||
*Les policiers '''ont''' appelé mon frère et moi (feminine) : Les policiers '''nous''' '''ont''' appelé'''es'''. | *Les policiers '''ont''' appelé mon frère et moi (feminine) : Les policiers '''nous''' '''ont''' appelé'''es'''. | ||
<blockquote>The police men called my brother and me: The police men called us.</blockquote> | <blockquote>The police men called my brother and me: The police men called us.</blockquote> | ||
Note: "le" used to designate a clause is always masculine. It does not agree with the past participle: | Note: "le" used to designate a clause is always masculine. It does not agree with the past participle: | ||
*Son père est malade : il '''l'a''' souvent di'''t''' | *Son père est malade : il '''l'a''' souvent di'''t''' | ||
<blockquote>His father is sick: he has often said so</blockquote> | <blockquote>His father is sick: he has often said so</blockquote> | ||
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==Exceptions== | ==Exceptions== | ||
The past participles do not agree with the other pronouns that precede, nor with the '''indirect objects''', nor with "'''en'''". | The past participles do not agree with the other pronouns that precede, nor with the '''indirect objects''', nor with "'''en'''". | ||
*J''''ai''' parlé à Céline : Je '''lui''' '''ai''' parl'''é''' (NOT "parlée") | *J''''ai''' parlé à Céline : Je '''lui''' '''ai''' parl'''é''' (NOT "parlée") | ||
<blockquote>I spoke to Céline: I spoke to her.</blockquote> | <blockquote>I spoke to Céline: I spoke to her.</blockquote> | ||
*J'ai montré le chemin à Jean-Paul et Claude : Je '''leur''' '''ai''' montr'''é''' (NOT "montrés") le chemin | *J'ai montré le chemin à Jean-Paul et Claude : Je '''leur''' '''ai''' montr'''é''' (NOT "montrés") le chemin | ||
<blockquote>I told Jean-Paul and Claude how to get there: I told them how to get there</blockquote> | <blockquote>I told Jean-Paul and Claude how to get there: I told them how to get there</blockquote> | ||
*Cet après-midi il y a eu des moutons qui sont passées dans le champ du voisin. J''''en''' '''ai''' vu (NOT "vu'''s'''") ce matin également. | *Cet après-midi il y a eu des moutons qui sont passées dans le champ du voisin. J''''en''' '''ai''' vu (NOT "vu'''s'''") ce matin également. | ||
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==Other Chapters== | ==Other Chapters== | ||
{{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}} | {{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}} | ||