In Le Passé Composé, most verbs use avoir as the auxiliary verb but a fixed number of verbs use être instead.
They are almost all verbs to do with movement (See Conjugate coming and going verbs (+ être) in Le Passé Composé (conversational past)), but also those to do with states of being (birth, death, becoming, staying).
Have a look at the following examples:
Je suis né en avril.
I was born in April.
Marie, tu es restée avec Lucas hier.
Marie, you stayed with Lucas yesterday.
Il est mort l'année dernière.
He died last year.
Nous sommes devenus bons amis.
We became good friends.
The pattern for these verbs in Le Passé Composé:
être (le Présent) + past participle of the verb
ATTENTION:
Because they're using être as auxiliary verb, their past participles have to agree with the subject of the verb.
List of the "being and state" verbs and their past participles
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Je suis resté à la maison.
I stayed at home.
Vous êtes restés mes petits garçons.
You remained my little boys.
Nous sommes devenus bons amis.
We became good friends.
Elles sont devenues danseuses.
They became dancers.
Je suis né en avril.
I was born in April.
Vous êtes restées dans le train.
You stayed on the train.
Il est mort l'année dernière.
He died last year.
Ils sont décédés le mois dernier.
They died last month.
Marie, tu es restée avec Lucas hier.
Marie, you stayed with Lucas yesterday.
Loading your KwizQ&A
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
10/08/16
Yes, past participles of all verbs can be used as adjectives.
Jennifer
Kwiziq community member
10/08/16
Thank you
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
7/06/16
Bonjour Chris !
All the (+être) verbs are covered in our system in two lessons: this one (for 'rogue' verbs) and the "coming and going verbs" lesson (see https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-coming-and-going-verbs-etre-in-le-passe-compose-conversational-past).
Also remember that all reflexive verbs also take être in Le Passé Composé: https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-reflexive-verbs-in-the-passe-compose-conversational-past
À bientôt !
Jenni
Kwiziq community member
24/02/17
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
30/03/16
It's a mistake, it should say "was born," or else, as you suggest, naître should be in the present tense.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
30/03/16
Yes, it's definitely a translation error.
If you used the present of "naître" in French, it would mean they're being born right now, or weirder, that they're born regularly !
You can use the present form in a general context, for example:
"Tous les ans, des quintuplés naissent dans le monde." (Every year, quintuplets are born in the world.)
The error has been fixed!
Merci et à bientôt !
Jennifer
Kwiziq community member
5/09/17
Melody
Kwiziq community member
16 September 2016
4 replies
Participle form for "vous", and for "elles"
Vous can mean one person (polite ? ) form, or more than one person. So "vous (Gareth) êtes resté à la maison"; vous (Laura) êtes restée à la maison" and "vous (Laura and Aurélie) êtes restées à la maison" ? I'm making my best guesses here. Vous is not included in the lesson. And elles is not included in the lesson either. "Elles êtes restées à la maison"? Whether my versions are correct or not, lesson might be improved by adding examples with vous and elles. Thanks as ever.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
16 September 2016
16/09/16
First of all, Bravo ! All your guesses for "vous" are perfectly correct :)
As for "elles", almost -> "Elles SONT restées à la maison."
And I agree with you that these cases need to be added to the lesson, which will all be done shortly.
Merci beaucoup et à bientôt !
Melody
Kwiziq community member
16 September 2016
16/09/16
Thanks for the speedy response. Sorry about the "brain glitch" on "Elles sont"!
One last question- for "vous (Laura and Aurélie) êtes restées à la maison", is there a liason between the "s" at the end of "restées" and "à" ? (and other similar cases)?
Thanks again. I find Q&A section SO helpful!
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
19 September 2016
19/09/16
In this case, most people wouldn't do the liaison between "restées" and "à", it sounds weird to me personally :)
I would say that usually before "à la maison" I wouldn't do the liaison.
Following this question, I also decided to rework the lesson on agreement, and add a section about the "vous" agreement there ;)
-> https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/agree-past-participle-with-subjects-gender-and-number-with-etre-verbs-in-le-passe-compose-conversational-past
Merci et à bientôt !
Melody
Kwiziq community member
19 September 2016
19/09/16
Melody