Chapter 16: Le Passé Composé (The Past)

Welcome to Level 2! It's time to stop living in the present. Let's talk about what you did.

The Formula

Subject + Auxiliary (Avoir) + Past Participle

It sounds like "I have eaten", but it simply means "I ate".

J'ai mangé

Step 1: The Helper (Avoir)

You already know this verb. It's the engine of the past tense.

J'ai
Tu as
Il/Elle a
Nous avons
Vous avez
Ils/Elles ont

Step 2: The Action (Past Participle)

How do we turn "Manger" into "Mangé"? Common rules:

-ER Verbs

Replace -er with


Manger -> Mangé

Parler -> Parlé

-IR Verbs

Replace -ir with -i


Finir -> Fini

Dormir -> Dormi

-RE Verbs

Replace -re with -u


Vendre -> Vendu

Entendre -> Entendu

Part 3: The Rebels (Irregulars)

Some verbs just don't follow rules. You must memorize these.

Avoir

Eu

(Had)
Être

Été

(Been)
Faire

Fait

(Done/Made)
Voir

Vu

(Seen)

Dialogue: Le Dîner

Talking about last night.

J
Julie

Tu as mangé au restaurant hier ?

(Did you eat at the restaurant yesterday?)

Oui, j'ai fini mon travail à 19h et j'ai vu Hugo.

(Yes, I finished my work at 7pm and I saw Hugo.)
T
Tom
J
Julie

Vous avez aimé le repas ?

(Did you like the meal?)

Le Coin Culturel: Le Déjeuner

In France, lunch is sacred. It's not a 10-minute sandwich at your desk; it's a "pause" that can last 1 to 2 hours. Even schoolchildren have a 3-course sit-down meal. When you say "J'ai mangé" (I ate), it usually implies a proper meal!

Past Tense Builder

Click the correct form to translate: "I ate"


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