French conjugation explanation
Choosing the correct auxiliary verb

<p>Most French verbs use

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/avoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for avoir" target="_blank">avoir</a>

as their auxiliary verb in compound tenses (like the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/81/" target="_blank">Passé Composé</a>

). However, a specific group of verbs uses

. These are typically intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take a direct object) that indicate <strong>motion</strong> or a <strong>change of state</strong>.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Verbs that always use être</div>

<p>The following common verbs always use <span style="font-style: italic;">être</span>:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/aller/" title="Click to see conjugations for aller" target="_blank">aller</a>

: to go</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Nous <span class="green_emphasis">sommes allés</span> au travail. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We went to work.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/arriver/" title="Click to see conjugations for arriver" target="_blank">arriver</a>

: to arrive</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tu <span class="green_emphasis">es arrivé</span> juste à temps. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You arrived just in time.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/devenir/" title="Click to see conjugations for devenir" target="_blank">devenir</a>

: to become</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Elle <span class="green_emphasis">est devenue</span> médecin. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She became a doctor.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/mourir/" title="Click to see conjugations for mourir" target="_blank">mourir</a>

: to die</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Son père <span class="green_emphasis">est mort</span> il y a dix ans. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Her father died ten years ago.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/na%C3%AEtre/" title="Click to see conjugations for naître" target="_blank">naître</a>

: to be born</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il <span class="green_emphasis">est né</span> en Italie. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He was born in Italy.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/partir/" title="Click to see conjugations for partir" target="_blank">partir</a>

: to leave</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ils <span class="green_emphasis">sont partis</span> immédiatement. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They left immediately.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/parvenir/" title="Click to see conjugations for parvenir" target="_blank">parvenir</a>

: to reach, to manage</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Je <span class="green_emphasis">suis parvenu</span> à le finir. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I managed to finish it.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/rester/" title="Click to see conjugations for rester" target="_blank">rester</a>

: to stay</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Combien de temps <span class="green_emphasis">êtes</span>-vous <span class="green_emphasis">restée</span> ? (<span style="font-style: italic;">How long did you stay?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/revenir/" title="Click to see conjugations for revenir" target="_blank">revenir</a>

: to come back</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Vous <span class="green_emphasis">êtes revenu</span> si vite. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You came back so quickly.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/tomber/" title="Click to see conjugations for tomber" target="_blank">tomber</a>

: to fall</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Elle <span class="green_emphasis">est tombée</span> dans la rue. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She fell in the street.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/venir/" title="Click to see conjugations for venir" target="_blank">venir</a>

: to come</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>Other verbs formed from these roots also use <span style="font-style: italic;">être</span>, including:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/rena%C3%AEtre/" title="Click to see conjugations for renaître" target="_blank">renaître</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/repartir/" title="Click to see conjugations for repartir" target="_blank">repartir</a>

, and

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/retomber/" title="Click to see conjugations for retomber" target="_blank">retomber</a>

.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Variable auxiliary verbs</div>

<p>Some verbs express motion but can take a direct object. These verbs use

when they are <strong>intransitive</strong> (movement of the subject) and

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/avoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for avoir" target="_blank">avoir</a>

when they are <strong>transitive</strong> (action done to an object).</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/descendre/" title="Click to see conjugations for descendre" target="_blank">descendre</a>

: to go down vs. to take down</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Je <span class="green_emphasis">suis descendu</span> du train. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I got off the train.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Intransitive (subject moves) → ÊTRE</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">J'<span class="green_emphasis">ai descendu</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">la chaise</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I took the chair down.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Transitive (object is moved) → AVOIR</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/entrer/" title="Click to see conjugations for entrer" target="_blank">entrer</a>

: to enter vs. to input</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Nous <span class="green_emphasis">sommes entrés</span> dans la salle. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We entered the room.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il <span class="green_emphasis">a entré</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">son mot de passe</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He entered his password.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/monter/" title="Click to see conjugations for monter" target="_blank">monter</a>

: to go up vs. to take up/ride</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il <span class="green_emphasis">est monté</span> au sommet. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He went up to the summit.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Elles <span class="green_emphasis">ont monté</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">les valises</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They took the suitcases up.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/passer/" title="Click to see conjugations for passer" target="_blank">passer</a>

: to pass by/go vs. to spend (time)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Nous <span class="green_emphasis">sommes</span> déjà <span class="green_emphasis">passés</span> par ici. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We have been here before.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Elle <span class="green_emphasis">a passé</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">l'après-midi</span> à lire. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She spent the afternoon reading.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/rentrer/" title="Click to see conjugations for rentrer" target="_blank">rentrer</a>

: to return home vs. to bring in</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Je <span class="green_emphasis">suis rentré</span> tard. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I came home late.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tu <span class="green_emphasis">as rentré</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">la voiture</span> ? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Did you bring the car in?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/retourner/" title="Click to see conjugations for retourner" target="_blank">retourner</a>

: to return vs. to turn over</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Y <span class="green_emphasis">es</span>-tu <span class="green_emphasis">retourné</span> ? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Did you go back there?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il <span class="green_emphasis">a retourné</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">la crêpe</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He flipped the crepe.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/sortir/" title="Click to see conjugations for sortir" target="_blank">sortir</a>

: to go out vs. to take out</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ils <span class="green_emphasis">sont sortis</span> ce soir. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They went out tonight.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tu <span class="green_emphasis">as sorti</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">les poubelles</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You took out the trash.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>The same rule applies to

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/remonter/" title="Click to see conjugations for remonter" target="_blank">remonter</a>

.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">How to identify the direct object</div>

<p>To decide which auxiliary to use with variable verbs, look for a <strong>direct object</strong> right after the verb (answering <em>what?</em> or <em>whom?</em>).</p>

<ul>

<li>If the verb is followed by a <span class="brown_emphasis">noun</span> directly (no preposition), use

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/avoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for avoir" target="_blank">avoir</a>

.</li>

<li>If the verb is followed by a <strong>preposition</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">dans, à, de, par, sur</span>, etc.) or by nothing at all, use

.</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Elle <span class="green_emphasis">a descendu</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">les escaliers</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She went down the stairs.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Descendu <strong>quoi</strong> ? → les escaliers (Direct Object) → use AVOIR.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il <span class="green_emphasis">est monté</span> <strong>dans</strong> le train. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He got on the train.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Followed by preposition <em>dans</em> → No Direct Object → use ÊTRE.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Reflexive verbs</div>

<p>All pronominal verbs (reflexive and reciprocal) use

as their auxiliary verb.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ils

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/se%20trouver/" title="Click to see conjugations for se trouver" target="_blank"><strong>se sont trouvés</strong></a>

dans une forêt. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They found themselves in a forest.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Je

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/se%20r%C3%A9veiller/" title="Click to see conjugations for se réveiller" target="_blank"><strong>me suis réveillée</strong></a>

à minuit. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I woke up at midnight.</span>)</div>

<p>Note: When <span style="font-style: italic;">être</span> is used as the auxiliary, the past participle normally agrees with the subject in gender and number. For details on exceptions with reflexive objects, see

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/french_wrong_auxiliary_verb_for_reflexive/" target="_blank">agreement with reflexive verbs</a>

.</p>

French conjugation explanation Choosing the correct auxiliary verb

French conjugation explanation
Choosing the correct auxiliary verb