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The past tense with être
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A small group of verbs, mostly about movement, use être instead of avoir in the past. Their past participle agrees with the subject.
Which verbs use être?
Mostly verbs of movement or change of state: aller, venir, arriver, partir, entrer, sortir, monter, descendre, rester, tomber, naître, mourir, retourner, rentrer, devenir, revenir.
All reflexive verbs use être too.
All reflexive verbs use être too.
Building it
être (present) + past participle
Je suis allé(e). = I went.
Ils sont arrivés. = They arrived.
Je suis allé(e). = I went.
Ils sont arrivés. = They arrived.
Agreement
The past participle agrees with the subject, like an adjective.
Add -e for feminine, -s for plural, -es for feminine plural.
Elle est allée. Nous sommes partis. Elles sont arrivées.
Add -e for feminine, -s for plural, -es for feminine plural.
Elle est allée. Nous sommes partis. Elles sont arrivées.
Translate: My sister went to Spain.
- Aller uses être.
- My sister is feminine, so allée.
- Spain is feminine: en Espagne.
Answer: Ma sœur est allée en Espagne.
Movement verbs and reflexive verbs use être + past participle. The participle agrees: -e feminine, -s plural, -es feminine plural.
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