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Subject + present tense of the verb avoir or être + past participle of the verb
2) The passé composé is used to talk about past events (that have no relation with the present).
You use AVOIR with a verb taking a direct or You use ÊTRE with a verb taking an adverbial
indirect object. complement.
In other words, you use AVOIR when the action In other words, you use ETRE when the action
of the verb modifies the object. of the verb modifies the subject
Note:
You use ÊTRE with all the reflexive verbs.
►Past participles of verbs conjugated with être agree in gender and number with the subject.
Ex: Elles sont parties à 4 heures.
Nous sommes arrivés avant tout le monde.
►Past participles of verbs conjugated with avoir agree in gender and number with the direct object if
it precedes the verb.
NOTE: With a reflexive verb the past participle may agree with the subject or the object depending on
who/what the action modifies.
Ex: Elle s'est lavée. (Who was washed? “Elle”, so the past participle agrees with the subject
“elle”, which is feminine)
Elle s'est lavé les mains. (What was washed? “Les mains” so the past participle should
agree with the object “les mains”, but as it comes after the verb,
there is no agreement)