7.2.4

Être IR & RE

Test yourself

Regular IR Verbs

In French the same verbs that use 'être' in the perfect tense, also use it in the pluperfect tense. Here are the IR verbs that have regular past participle:

Illustrative background for Sortir - to go outIllustrative background for Sortir - to go out ?? "content

Sortir - to go out

  • J'étais sorti(e) - I had gone out.
  • Tu étais sorti(e) - you (singular) had gone out.
  • Il/elle/on était sorti(e) - he/she/one had gone out.
  • Nous étions sorti(e)s - we had gone out.
  • Vous étiez sorti(e)(s) - you (plural/formal) had gone out.
  • Ils/elles étaient sorti(e)s - they had gone out.
Illustrative background for Partir - to leaveIllustrative background for Partir - to leave ?? "content

Partir - to leave

  • J'étais parti(e) - I had left.
  • Tu étais parti(e) - you (singular) had left.
  • Il/elle/on était parti(e) - he/she/one had left.
  • Nous étions parti(e)s - we had left.
  • Vous étiez parti(e)(s) - you (plural/formal) had left.
  • Ils/elles étaient parti(e)s - they had left.

Regular RE Verbs

In French, the verbs that use 'être' in the perfect tense also use 'être' in the pluperfect tense. Here is the RE verb 'descendre' (to go down) that has a regular past participle:

Illustrative background for Tu =étais= descend=u(e)= - you had gone downIllustrative background for Tu =étais= descend=u(e)= - you had gone down ?? "content

Tu étais descendu(e) - you had gone down

  • 'Tu' means 'you' (singular).
Illustrative background for Vous =étiez= descend=u(e)(s)= -  you had gone downIllustrative background for Vous =étiez= descend=u(e)(s)= -  you had gone down ?? "content

Vous étiez descendu(e)(s) - you had gone down

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

Jump to other topics

1Everyday Activities

2Personal & Social Life

3The World Around Us

4The World of Work

5The International World

6Common Tenses

7Advanced Tenses

8Extra Grammar

8.1Articles

8.2The Passive Voice

8.3Pronouns

8.4Asking Questions

8.5Nouns

8.6Prepositions

8.7Adverbs

8.8Adjectives

8.9Negative

8.10Conjunctions

8.11Miscellaneous

8.12Verbs

8.13Numbers

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium