Session 3, Activity 2 (French)
Activity 2 French – identifying the use of avoir and être in the French passé composé
OMT can be used to identify and understand grammatical features of a language, such as the use and formation of tenses and the distinction between transitive verbs and intransitive/movement verbs.
For example, understanding the use of avoir and être in the French passé composé is helpful because knowing which auxiliary verb to use ensures proper conjugation of verbs and enhances grammatical accuracy in both writing and speaking. Recognising this and similar grammatical structures is essential for the understanding of how a language works.
Now follow the three steps below.
Step 1
Input the English sentences below into OMT for a French translation.
- They have bought a new house.
- I have eaten a banana.
- Have you run a marathon?
- Have you taken your medicine?
- They have sailed from Hamburg.
- We have danced a waltz.
- I have walked too far.
- The cat slept five hours.
- The child has caught the ball.
- They have moved to Bern.
- I have driven to London.
- We have played tennis.
- He has flown to Frankfurt.
- It has rained all day.
- Have you read this book?
- Have we finished the activity?
- You have met my cousin.
Step 2
Read and analyse the French sentences.
Step 3
What is the general rule regarding the use of avoir and être?
Discussion
With the help of OMT, grammatical features such as the rules for using avoir and être can be identified. Through instant translations, patterns can be recognised and contextual examples can help with learning nuances in usage, thus enhancing your vocabulary and grammar.
Many past tenses in French (and other languages including German and Spanish), such as the passé composé, are formed using auxiliary verbs.
Avoir is the auxiliary verb for most verbs in French, particularly transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object). Être is used as an auxiliary verb used with intransitive verbs, usually indicating movement, change of state, or location and pronominal reflexive verbs.
An auxiliary verb is essentially a ‘helping verb’ that works alongside the main verb. The passé composé needs an auxiliary verb because it is a compound tense, meaning it consists of two parts: the conjugated auxiliary verb (avoir or être) and the past participle of the main verb. The auxiliary verb provides the tense and agrees with the subject, while the past participle carries the core meaning of the action. Here are two examples:
Avoir: most verbs in French use avoir as the auxiliary verb.
Example: J’ai mangé. (I ate/I have eaten.)
- J’ (I) is the subject.
- ai is the auxiliary verb (avoir) conjugated in the present tense.
- mangé is the past participle of the verb manger (to eat).
Être: certain verbs, particularly pronominal verbs and movement/state verbs, use être as the auxiliary verb.
Example: Elle est partie. (She left.)
- Elle (She) is the subject.
- est is the auxiliary verb (être) conjugated in the present tense.
- partie is the past participle of partir (to leave).
Becoming confident of how to use the rules is essential for constructing sentences in the past tense correctly and preventing misunderstandings. Using the right auxiliary verb provides precise meaning, especially since avoir and être can change the implication of a verb. Some verbs can use both avoir and être depending on their transitive or intransitive use, which also affects the sentence's meaning. Understanding when to use avoir and être is also important for progressing to more complex grammatical structures.
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