French language Q&A Forum

The above is quoted from the lesson.  I wonder if the "past participle" now serves as an adjective and that is the reason for the agreement, not the use of the verb être per se.  If that is the case it seems to me to be a much easier way to understand the construction of the passive voice.  

The explanation seems to focus on the verb être with the use of bold for être rather than the subject agreement, so it's easy to get confused.  (I tried to use "bold" here but it didn't work, so pls. see statement as it appears in the lesson.)

Going back to an earlier lesson which had this sentence in a quiz question:

Je vais être dévoré par les morts vivants

I went round and round trying to figure out what part of speech dévoré was.  I finally decided it was being used as an adjective (but I admit I am not !00% sure).   Hence my question above.

see that question below (not from me)

Conjugate verbs in the near future in French using aller + infinitive (Le Futur Proche)

See below.   The use of être plus the past participle should be discussed/explained...just say'n :))Non ! Je ________ dévoré par les morts vivants !No! I'm going to be devoured by the living dead!HINT: Conjugate être (to be) in Le Futur Proche

A light bulb went off for me after reading Sandra’s post below.

If I may add my two cents worth to expand on what she said…..

When I looked back over my incorrect answers, I had been choosing responses containing ‘devoir’ without an infinitive following, so in reality those sentences had an entirely different meaning.

Devoir + noun (no verb) = to owe 

Je dois de l’argent – I owe some money

Il me doit dix euros – He owes me 10 euros

So only the first two out of the three following test examples can be correct or mean "to need": 

•Marie doit ACHETER un nouveau sac à main = correct (devoir + infinitive)

Marie needs to buy a new handbag

•Elle doit RENTRER de bonne heure = correct (devoir + infinitive)

She needs to go home early

Vous devez un nouveau vélo = incorrect (no infinitive after devez)

I owe a new bike??

Am I on the right track here?

Bonjour!  Qu'est-ce c'est la différence entre paraître et apparaître? 
Merci d'avance.

In the example, for actions already done, using the infinitive Passé:  "C'était très difficile, merci de m'avoir aidée."  It appears the usage demands an agreement (if the speaker in the case was female.)  Would it always be the case that agreement should be made?