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Why do some past participles agree, even with 'avoir'?

The general rule is that past participles taking 'avoir' as the auxiliary do not agree. However, consider this example:"Avez-vous acheté la voiture ?" "Oui, je l' ai acheté e hier."You wi...
DF
Answered by Daniel F. • French tutor
2297 Views

"j'ai cueilli des fleures"; "je les ai cueillies". Why does the participle on the one hand take an "i" at the end, and on the other hand an "ies"?

This is an example of how the agreement of the past particle works with the auxiliary "avoir" (have), "j'ai" at the first person singular. The agreement of the past particle with the auxi...
JT
2571 Views

What is the difference between the imperfect and the perfect tense?

The perfect tense, or "passé composé" is used to demonstrate an action that is in the past and has been completed, for example "Yesterday, I went to the shop", " Hier, je suis allé(e...
PT
Answered by Phoebe T. • French tutor
2253 Views

Translate the following text into English

Mes copains vont souvent au jardin public près de l'école parce qu’on peut jouer au foot. C'est inquiétant le nombre de sans-abris qu'on y voit. Nous aimerions pouvoir donner de notre temps pour les aider. P...
JW
Answered by Joe W. • French tutor
4067 Views

Usage of the Imperfect Tense and the Passé Composé.

A question which blights both GCSE and A Level students and becomes particularly relevant when doing translation work. The imperfect tense refers to actions that took place over a long period in the past, an...
EB
Answered by Elizabeth B. • French tutor
2490 Views