Passé Composé
Describes an action that is completed in the past. It is a compound tense (made up of two parts)
How to form the past participle
AVOIR VERBS
- The present tense of either the verb avoir or etre
- The past participle
How to form the past participle
- er -> é
- ir -> i
- re -> u
AVOIR VERBS
- Most verbs are conjugated with avoir
- Negative Verbs
- Irregular Avoir Verbs
Avoir
Boire Conduire Connaitre Courir Croire Devoir Dire Etre Écrire Faire Lire Mettre Ourir Pouvoir Prendre Rire Savoir Suivre Tenir Vivre Voir Vouloir |
eu
bu conduit connu couru cru dû dit été écrit fait lu mis ouvert pu pris ri su suivi tenu vecu vu voulu |
ETRE VERBS
-> je ne me suis pas lavé(e)
- All etre verbs must agree e.g. female takes e, plural takes s after past particaple
- All reflexive verbs take etre
-> je ne me suis pas lavé(e)
- Twelve regular verbs take etre - MRS. VAN DER TRAMP
Monter
Rentrer Sortir Venir Aller Naitre Descendre Entrer Rester Tomber Retourner Arriver Mourir Partir |
monté(e)(s)
rentré(e)(s) sorti(e)(s) venu(e)(s) allé(e)(s) né(e)(s) descendu(e)(s) entré(e)(s) resté(e)(s) tombé(e)(s) retourné(e)(s) arrivé(e)(s) mort(e)(s) parti (e)(s) |
L'Imparfait
The imparfait is used when:
The imparfait is formed by
- We want to describe a continuous action in the past (we were working in the supermarket)
- We want to describe a constantly repeated action in the past (My brother used to work in the supermarket)
- An action was taking place when something else happend (The telephone rang while I was doing my homework)
- The verb etre is used in the imparfait 90% of the time
The imparfait is formed by
- Taking the nous form in the present tense
- Removing the 'ons' ending which leaves you with the stem
- Add the following endings onto the stem (same is conditional)
|
er |
ir |
re |
Je |
ais |
ais |
ais |
Tu |
ais |
ais |
ais |
Il/Elle/On |
ait |
ait |
ait |
Nous |
ions |
ions |
ions |
Vous |
iez |
iez |
iez |
Ils/Elles |
aient |
aient |
aient |
Only irregular verb is etre
J'étais
Tu étais
Il/Elle étais
Nous étions
Vous étiez
Ils/Elles étaient
J'étais
Tu étais
Il/Elle étais
Nous étions
Vous étiez
Ils/Elles étaient
Plus Que Parfait
Describes something that had happened e.g. I had eaten my dinner
It has the same rules as the present tense but is formed by
e.g. j'avais mangé
j'étais allée
It has the same rules as the present tense but is formed by
- Using avoir and etre in the imparfait instead of the present tense
e.g. j'avais mangé
j'étais allée
Passé Récent
Passé Récent is something that just happened e.g. I just ate my dinner
It is formed by
It is formed by
- Taking venir in the present tense
- Add de after the verb
- Add the verb in the infinitive