11.8.1

The Pluperfect Tense with 'Avoir'

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Regular ER Verbs in the Pluperfect Tense

The pluperfect tense translates as 'I had done something'. It's formed using the imperfect of 'avoir' and then a past participle. With 'avoir', the past participle only agrees if there's a direct object. Here's the example with 'parler':

Illustrative background for Tu =avais= parl=é= - you had spokenIllustrative background for Tu =avais= parl=é= - you had spoken ?? "content

Tu avais parlé - you had spoken

  • 'Tu' means 'you' (singular).
Illustrative background for Vous =aviez= parl=é= - you had spokenIllustrative background for Vous =aviez= parl=é= - you had spoken ?? "content

Vous aviez parlé - you had spoken

  • 'Vous' means:
    • You (plural).
    • You (singular, formal).

Regular IR Verbs in the Pluperfect Tense

The pluperfect tense translates as 'I had done something'. It's formed using the imperfect of 'avoir' and then a past participle. With 'avoir', the past participle only agrees if there's a direct object. Here's the example with 'finir':

Illustrative background for Tu =avais= fin=i= - you had finishedIllustrative background for Tu =avais= fin=i= - you had finished ?? "content

Tu avais fini - you had finished

  • 'Tu' means 'you' (singular).
Illustrative background for Vous =aviez= fin=i= - you had finishedIllustrative background for Vous =aviez= fin=i= - you had finished ?? "content

Vous aviez fini - you had finished

  • 'Vous' means:
    • You (plural).
    • You (singular, formal).

Regular RE Verbs in the Pluperfect Tense

The pluperfect tense translates as 'I had done something'. It's formed using the imperfect of 'avoir' and then a past participle. With 'avoir', the past participle only agrees if there's a direct object. Here's the example with 'vendre':

Illustrative background for Tu =avais= vend=u= - you had soldIllustrative background for Tu =avais= vend=u= - you had sold ?? "content

Tu avais vendu - you had sold

  • 'Tu' means 'you' (singular).
Illustrative background for Vous =aviez= vend=u= - you had soldIllustrative background for Vous =aviez= vend=u= - you had sold ?? "content

Vous aviez vendu - you had sold

  • 'Vous' means:
    • You (plural).
    • You (singular, formal).

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4Diverse Society

5The Marginalised

6How Criminals Are Treated

7A Culture Proud of its Heritage

8Cinema: the 7th Art Form

9Demonstrations, strikes – who holds the power?

10Politics & Immigration

11Conjugation & Use of Tenses

11.1Present Tense

11.2Perfect Tense

11.3Imperfect Tense

11.4Future Tense

11.5Conditional Tense

11.6Future Perfect Tense

11.7Conditional Perfect Tense

11.8Pluperfect Tense

12Extra Grammar

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