These sentences are so similar that I don't understand why one uses "avoir" and the the other "etre." Don't they both have a direct object? "He walked down (the boulevard)", and "she went up (the hill)". I'm missing something!
Il ________ descendu le boulevard St Michel.
Elle ______ montee la colline.
Hi Nancy,
I can find the Boulevard St Michel example but not the 'la colline' one in this lesson so I am wondering if you copied it correctly.
As Jim states, they both use 'avoir' as both are transitive and have a direct object and as you correctly thought.
Could you let us know where the second example is from?
Although it is quite possible I have missed it!
Hi Nancy,
They both will only have a direct object if avoir is being used. (Transitive usage)
If être is being used (intransitive usage) there will be a preposition before the object thereby making the object indirect.
"Il a descendu le boulevard ...." He is (walking or otherwise) down le boulevard. "down" in this context would be an adverb, not a preposition.
"Elle a monté la colline" She has climbed (gone up) the hill. If you were to chose "up" to clarify the climb then this would be an adverb modifying the verb (as above with down) (not a preposition)
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/auxiliary-verbs-2/
Have a look at the link above. I think it will help you further.
Bonne continuation.
Jim
They both should be used with etre. Descrendre and Monter are both verbs conjugated with etre.
Augusto, you are right that both verbs conjugate with être, however they both can also conjugate with avoir, as Jim described. You can find more information on these verbs via the link :
https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/search?s=Verb+auxiliary&kclfts=Verbes+aux+deux+auxiliaires
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