HOW TO EASILY KNOW THE FRENCH VERBS CONJUGATED WITH ÊTRE
So, have you ever been confused about the French verbs and how they are conjugated?
Sarah today was asking me “When do I use AVOIR and when do I use ÊTRE in my stories?”
The short answer is: let English guide you and translate accordingly, and pay attention to the exceptions.
The long answer is much longer.
Expressions may come with a different verb than in English, then we have the active, reflexive and passive mode – which we need to understand – and then we have… well, exceptions (because we’re French 😉 )
Today, what are the verbs in the active mode that conjugate with ÊTRE, and how to remember them without needing a notepad handy.
The Verbs conjugated with ÊTRE at passé composé are 16 verbs in the ACTIVE mode, expressing motion and change of state.
USE the OPPOSITES to remember them in a logical manner:
Aller / Venir
Arriver / Partir
Descendre / Monter
Entrer / Sortir
Mourir / Naître
Rester / Tomber
Devenir
Retourner
***
Revenir (like Venir)
Rentrer (like Entrer)
*In the REFLEXIVE and PASSIVE voice, all verbs conjugate with Être.
The past participles of these verbs
are in agreement with the subject, and they are:
Aller (allé) = to go
Arriver (arrivé) = to arrive
Descendre (descendu) = to come down
Devenir (devenu) = to become
Entrer (entré) = to enter
Monter (monté) = to climb
Mourir (mort) = to die
Naître (né) = to be born
Partir (parti) = to leave
Rentrer (rentré) = to come back
Rester (resté) = to stay
Retourner (retourné) = to return
Revenir (revenu) = to get back
Sortir (sorti) = to exit
Tomber (tombé) = to fall
Venir (venu) = to come
Examples of agreement:
Paul est allé à Paris tout seul.
Marie est partie plus tard.
Marie et Paul sont arrivés à la maison hier soir.
Jacqueline et Hélène sont venues les accueillir à l’aéroport.
Now it is your turn!
Comment below and let me know what is the easiest way for you to remember these verbs in conversation?
Let me guess.
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Always in your corner,
Llyane
Photo credit: A.G. photographe
