Rules

• What is the rule for agreement of the past participle with composed tenses?

  It involves adding an “e” or an “s” or both based on the subject and direct objects.
• What are the 17 intransitive verbs that require agreement with the subject?

  • Devenir
  • Revenir
  • Monter
  • Rester
  • Sortir
  • Venir
  • Aller
  • Naître
  • Descendre
  • Entrer
  • Retourner
  • Tomber
  • Rester
  • Aller
  • Mourir
  • Partir
• When does the past participle agree with the subject in composed tenses?

  Only with the 17 intransitive verbs known as DR MRS P VANDERTRAMP.
• What is an example of a sentence where the past participle agrees with the subject?

  Elle est allée.
• How does the past participle agree with direct objects in sentences?

  It agrees only when the direct object precedes the past participle.
• In the sentence "La fille que j’ai vue," why is there agreement in the past participle?

  Because "la fille" is the direct object and precedes the past participle.
• What are the direct object pronouns that cause agreement of the past participle?

  Me, te, se, le, la, nous, vous, les.
• What happens to the direct object pronoun "la" before a vowel?

  It becomes "l’."
• How does the agreement differ between "Elle s’est couchée" and "Elle s’est parlé"?

  In "Elle s’est couchée," there is agreement because "se" is a direct object, while in "Elle s’est parlé," there is no agreement because "se" is an indirect object.
• Why is there an extra "e" in "Elle s’est couchée"?

  Because "se" acts as a direct object that precedes the past participle.
• Why is there no extra "e" in "Elle s’est parlé"?

  Because "se" is an indirect object in this case.
• What is the difference between direct and indirect objects?

  • Direct objects receive the action directly and follow the verb.
  • Indirect objects receive the action indirectly and are preceded by a preposition (often à).
• What is an example of a direct object in a sentence?

  Je ferme la porte.
• What is an example of an indirect object in a sentence?

  Je parle à mon père.
• What is the rule regarding agreement with body parts in reflexive verbs?

  There is never agreement with a body part.
• In the sentence "Elle s’est lavé les mains," why is there no agreement?

  Because "les mains" is a body part and follows the past participle.
• In the sentence "Ils se sont brossé les dents," why is there no agreement?

  Because "les dents" is a body part and follows the past participle.
• In the sentence "Nous nous sommes coupé les ongles," why is there no agreement?

  Because "les ongles" is a body part and follows the past participle.
• In the sentence "Elle s’est cassé le pied," why is there no agreement?

  Because "le pied" is a body part and follows the past participle.