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 7 years ago

Like0Answer3

Chris W.C1KwizIQ Q&A super contributorCorrect 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.

Like17 years ago

Cécile J.A1KwizIQ Q&A super contributor

Hi Catriona,

Without the context it is hard to tell.

Vous can be singular or plural...

Like17 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!

Like07 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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