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Passé Composé with Avoir in French A1

The French passé composé with « avoir »: how to form it, the past participles of regular and common irregular verbs, and the negative.

The rules

What is the passé composé used for?

A completed action in the past.
Hier, j'ai vu un film. (Yesterday, I saw a film.)

What is the past participle of -er verbs?

Replace -er with -é
parler (to speak) → parlé (spoken), manger (to eat) → mangé (eaten)

How do you form the passé composé with « avoir »?

avoir (in the present) + past participle (« participe passé »)
j'ai parlé (I spoke)
tu as parlé
il / elle / on a parlé
nous avons parlé
vous avez parlé
ils / elles ont parlé

Does the past participle agree with the subject when the auxiliary is « avoir »?

No, not in simple sentences: the past participle stays the same.
Elle a parlé. Ils ont parlé. (She spoke. They spoke.)

What is the past participle of regular -ir verbs like « finir »?

Replace -ir with -i.
finir (to finish) → fini (finished), choisir (to choose) → choisi (chosen)

What is the past participle of regular -re verbs like « attendre »?

Replace -re with -u.
attendre (to wait) → attendu (waited), vendre (to sell) → vendu (sold), répondre (to answer) → répondu (answered)

Do all verbs follow these patterns?

No. Many common verbs have an irregular past participle that must be learned.
prendre (to take) → pris (taken), voir (to see) → vu (seen)

Where do « ne » and « pas » go in the passé composé?

Around « avoir »
Je n'ai pas mangé. (I didn't eat.)

Common mistakes

Learn first: Être, Avoir, Aller & Faire →

Then continue with: Passé Composé with Être →

Next step at A2: The Imparfait →

Next step at A2: Passé Composé vs Imparfait →

Next step at A2: Passé Composé: New Participles & Adverb Position →

39 exercises

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Made by Léo Floissac, developer of Flashcards Master. Updated October 7, 2026.

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