Lecture Notes: Choosing Between Être and Avoir in Passé Composé
Introduction
- Topic: Usage of auxiliary verbs "être" and "avoir" in the French passé composé tense
- Purpose: Understand when to use each auxiliary verb
Formation of Passé Composé
- Structure: Composed of two parts
- Auxiliary Verb: Key verb that helps change tense
- Past Participle
- Example in English: "I have played," where "have" is the auxiliary
- Auxiliary Verbs in French: Être (to be) and Avoir (to have)
Usage of Avoir
- Example: "Tu as joué" (You played)
- "As" is the form of avoir used with the pronoun "tu"
- "Joué" is the past participle
Usage of Être
- Example: "Tu es tombé" (You fell)
- "Es" is the form of être used as the auxiliary
- "Tombé" is the past participle
Categories Using Être
- Reflexive Verbs
- Verbs where the direct object is the same as the subject
- Example: "Je me suis lavé" (I washed myself)
- Movement Verbs
- Limited to 16 verbs, remembered by the acronym Dr. and Mrs. Van de Tromp
- Example verbs: Devenir, Revenir, Monter, Rentrer, Sortir, Venir, Arriver, Naître, Descendre, Entrer, Retourner, Tomber, Rester, Aller, Mourir, Partir
- Example: "Je suis devenu" (I became)
Agreement in Gender and Number
- Past participle agrees in gender and number, e.g., "Elle est tombée"
Exceptions and Dual Usage
- Some verbs can use both auxiliaires depending on structure:
- With Direct Objects: Use avoir
- Example: "J'ai lavé ma voiture" (I washed my car)
- Without Direct Objects: Use être
- Example: "Je suis descendu" (I went down)
- Movement Verb Example: "J'ai descendu les poubelles" (I took the bins downstairs)
Conclusion
- Most verbs use avoir unless they are reflexive or movement verbs
- Learn reflexive and 16 movement verbs for accurate usage
- More detailed explanations available in online courses and videos
Additional Resources
- Check links to videos and courses for more detailed information
Note: Practice and memorization are key to mastering these concepts in French.