Avoir or être

Liz H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Avoir or être

Going up to the attic takes être? I’m confused since the instructions seem clear that going up to something takes avoir. Help please? 

Asked 5 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Going up to something uses the verb monter in an intransitive manner and therefore requires être as auxiliary verb. When you say "going up the stairs" (note: not "to the stairs") "the stairs" is a direct object and therefore monter is used transitively and needs avoir. When used with être, you will always have a preposition along with it. Not so with avoir:

Je suis monté dans la voiture. -- I got into the car.
Je suis monté sur le toit. -- I got up on the roof.
J'ai monté les escaliers. -- I climbed the stairs. (not to the stairs, in the stairs or on the stairs).
J'ai monté ta valise. -- I took your suitcase up.

Liz H. asked:

Avoir or être

Going up to the attic takes être? I’m confused since the instructions seem clear that going up to something takes avoir. Help please? 

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