Why do you not add an s to retourné when you say - vous y êtes retourné?

Catriona S.C1Kwiziq community member

Why do you not add an s to retourné when you say - vous y êtes retourné?

I thought that when you use être the pp always agrees with the subject.

This question relates to:French lesson "Retourner can be used with avoir or être in compound tenses depending on its meaning in French (Le Passé Composé)"

Asked 6 years ago

Like0Answer3

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Vous y êtes retourné refers to a single person in formal "you".

Vous y êtes retournés addresses a group of people, hence plural and hence retournés.

Like16 years ago

CécileKwiziq Native French Teacher

Hi Catriona,

Without the context it is hard to tell.

Vous can be singular or plural...

Like16 years ago

Catriona S.C1Kwiziq community member

Thanks for pointing this out. I have always been adding the s to the pp when using être as the auxiliary verb and the vous form regardless of whether singular or plural. Oops!

Like06 years ago

Catriona S. asked:

Why do you not add an s to retourné when you say - vous y êtes retourné?

I thought that when you use être the pp always agrees with the subject.

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