This lesson is for verbs that use être for the passé composé. These are usually verbs of movement such as aller and partir, a few verbs of staying or of a change of state such as rester, naître and mourir. Additionally all reflexive verbs use être. For non-reflexive être verbs, the participle agrees with the subject.
Agreement
Add -e for a feminine subject, -s for a plural one, and -es for both.
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| il | est allé |
| elle | est allée |
| ils | sont allés |
| elles | sont allées |
An être example
aller in Passé Composé
Which verbs take être
Verbs of coming and going, and their compounds: aller, venir, arriver, partir, entrer, sortir, monter, descendre, naître, mourir, rester, tomber, retourner, rentrer, revenir, devenir.
Reflexive verbs
Every reflexive verb takes être as well, whatever its group: je me suis lavé, elle s'est levée.