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PARTICIPE PASSÉ

The Past Participle in French Grammar

The participe passé (the past participle) is an impersonal verb form that is mostly used to form compound tenses, such as the passé composé. We can also use past participles as adjectives.

TL;DR

The past participle is essential for all compound tenses. Regular forms: -é (-er verbs), -i (-ir verbs), -u (-re verbs). Common irregulars: été, eu, fait, pu, voulu, su, venu, pris, mis, écrit, ouvert. Agreement rules: with être, it agrees with the subject; with avoir, it agrees with a preceding direct object.

How to form the participe passé

-ER Verbs Label

Er Ex

-IR Verbs Label
-i

Ir Ex

-RE Verbs Label
-u

Re Ex

Irregular Title

U Club
  • BoireBu
  • LireLu
  • VoirVu
  • SavoirSu
Is Club
  • PrendrePris
  • MettreMis
  • ComprendreCompris
T Club
  • DireDit
  • FaireFait
  • ÉcrireÉcrit
Gods Club
  • AvoirEU
  • ÊtreÉTÉ

When does the past participle agree in French?

Past participle agreement with être

Agreement Etre Rule

Agreement Etre Ex1
Agreement Etre Ex2

Past participle agreement with avoir

1

Agreement Avoir Rule1

Agreement Avoir Ex1
2

Agreement Avoir Rule2

Agreement Avoir Ex2

Past participle agreement with pronominal verbs

Agreement Pronominal Rule

Agreement Pronominal Ex1
Agreement Pronominal Ex2

How to form the negative with the participe passé

Negation FormulaNegation Note
Negation Ex1