With Perfect Past Tense is there a way to know which verb of Etre or Avoir is used with the second verb other than memorizing every verb?
Thank you,
MFW
Etre and Avoir in Perfect Past Tense
MFW
August 4, 2009
Marie-Claire-Riviere
August 19, 2009
Hi there,
the best thing is to memorize them, but there are a few hints that are useful to know:
- all reflexive verbs go with être
- verbs that describe some kind of motion usually go with être, for example aller, venire etc.
- when a verb is used together with a direct object it uses avoir
I personally think that the more you are exposed to spoken French (Interactive Audio Course, TV, Radio etc) the more you will get a feel for what to use. Even if you don't pay attention to it in particular you will pick it up and get a feel for it. It will feel right to use avoir or être and you won't even know why.
I hope that helps.
MFW
September 1, 2009
Yes that helps a great deal. Thank you Marie-Claire.
Want to post a comment? Just sign up for a free Rocket Languages trial
Select one of the languages below and sign up in 60 seconds. Join our user forum and experience Rocket Languages for yourself!
Most Popular Articles
Top 10 French hacks
If you've decided to give French a try and you're eager to start (or continue) learning the language of liberté, egalité, and fraternité (the French national motto}, here are a few hacks to learn French fast and and optimize your efforts.
How Long Does It Take To Learn French
Learning a language is a complex process that is different for each individual based on several different factors. Let's take a look at these different factors and how they impact how fast you learn French.
Let's get you talking in French.
We love French people and French culture - from buttery croissants and delicate macarons to gorgeous gardens and gilded châteaux! And there's no better way to connect with them than by learning le français.