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1 Preceding direct objects

In a compound tense like the perfect, the past participle of avoir verbs only takes an agreement if there is a direct object coming before the participle. This is called a preceding direct object agreement and is generally only used in more formal writing or speech. A preceding direct object can take several forms:

 

1.1 The relative pronoun que

The relative pronoun que and the noun it replaces:

Voilà la veste que j'ai achetée  

Here's the jacket I bought

Les décisions qu'il a prises étaient bonnes  

The decisions (that) he made were good

 switcher See three more examples



1.2 Question words

Certain question words: lequel, laquelle etc., combien + noun, quel, quelle etc. + noun:

Laquelle des deux maisons as-tu préférée?  

Which of the two houses did you like best?

Combien de feuilles de papier a-t-il prises?  

How many sheets of paper did he take?

Quelles raisons a-t-il données?  

What reasons did he give?

 switcher See three more examples



1.3 Personal pronouns

The personal pronouns le, la and les, and me, te, nous, vous where these act as a direct object :

La lettre? Je l'ai envoyée la semaine dernière  

The letter? I sent it last week

- Avez-vous vu mes lunettes? - Oui, je les ai vues sur la table  

- Have you seen my glasses? - Yes, I saw them on the table

 

 switcher See three more examples



 

As the pronouns me, te, nous, vous can be direct or indirect , it is easy to confuse the two and get the wrong p.d.o. agreement:

Elle nous a donné [and not *donnés] un conseil  

She gave us a piece of advice

Le concert nous a beaucoup plu [and not *plus]  

We very much enjoyed the concert

 

Here donné and plu do not take an agreement because they are both indirect (i.e. donner qch à qn - to give sb sth, plaire à qn - to please sb).

 



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