Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Agreement-of-past-participle-if-direct-object-is-placed-before"
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*Elle '''a''' rencontr'''é''' une célébrité. | *Elle '''a''' rencontr'''é''' une célébrité. | ||
<blockquote>She met a celebrity</blockquote> | <blockquote>She met a celebrity</blockquote> | ||
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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> | ||
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*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> | ||
Revision as of 15:49, 21 November 2021
[Changed]
No Agreement when using "avoir"
The past participle never agrees with the subject when using "avoir".
- Elle a rencontré une célébrité.
She met a celebrity
- Ils ont fini la bouteille.
They finished the bottle.
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:
- J'ai vu Céline: Je l'ai vue
I saw Céline: I saw her
- Les pompiers avaient repéré les pyromanes: Les pompiers les avaient repérés
The firefighters had found the arsonists: The firefighters had found them
- Les policiers ont appelé mon frère et moi (feminine) : Les policiers nous ont appelées.
The police men called my brother and me: The police men called us.
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 dit
His father is sick: he has often said so
Exceptions
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 parlé (NOT "parlée")
I spoke to Céline: I spoke to her.
- J'ai montré le chemin à Jean-Paul et Claude : Je leur ai montré (NOT "montrés") le chemin
I told Jean-Paul and Claude how to get there: I told them how to get there
- Cet après-midi il y a eu des moutons qui sont passées dans le champ du voisin. J'en ai vu (NOT "vus") ce matin également.
This afternoon there were sheep that passed in the neighbor's field. I saw some this morning as well.