Past Tenses in French- PC

means "composed past"

describes past events that are definitely finished

Uses a "formula"

Subject + helping verb + past participle

être or avoir, but usually avoir

conjugated normally in present tense

J'ai, tu as, il/elle/on a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont

Then add past participle

Many verbs will have irregular past participles

No rule for why; need to be memorized

Examples: venir, faire, pouvoir, vouloir, être, avoir...

(venu, fait, pu, voulu, été, eu)

Even verbs with irregular past participles follow the formula

Subject + helping verb+ past participle

J'ai eu =

I had

Only certain verbs (~17) use être. They are known by the acronym "DR & MRS P Vandertramp"

They follow the same formula

The only difference is, like adjectives, the past participle must agree with the subject

Add "s" to past participle if the subject is plural

Add "e" to past participle if the subject is feminine

Add both if it's feminine AND plural

Venir

Il est venu, Elle est venue

Nous sommes venus, Nous sommes venues