If you're new to learning the passé composé, check out the previous post on passé composé for 'er' endings here. Once you've got the hang of passé composé with 'er' verbs, you'll find the 'ir' and 're' verbs easier to learn.
Passé composé is built up in the same way as when working with an 'er' verb, using a noun or pronoun (eg. Elle), a connecting verb (avoir in this case) as well as the verb (the action) that you are talking about (eg. choisir). The only difference is in the way the verb is changed into passé composé.
Let's begin with 'ir' verbs first, using choisir as an example. Instead of using the é at the end of the word to designate past tense, we drop the 'ir' and replace with an 'i'. So in this case, we would take the stem chois and add an 'i' to give 'choisi'. In a sentence, we could write Elle a choisi- 'she chose/she has chosen'.
Passé composé is built up in the same way as when working with an 'er' verb, using a noun or pronoun (eg. Elle), a connecting verb (avoir in this case) as well as the verb (the action) that you are talking about (eg. choisir). The only difference is in the way the verb is changed into passé composé.
Let's begin with 'ir' verbs first, using choisir as an example. Instead of using the é at the end of the word to designate past tense, we drop the 'ir' and replace with an 'i'. So in this case, we would take the stem chois and add an 'i' to give 'choisi'. In a sentence, we could write Elle a choisi- 'she chose/she has chosen'.
More examples:
finir (to finish) → fini
punir (to punish) → puni
réussir (to suceed) → réussi
dormir(to sleep) → dormi
réfléchir (to reflect) → réfléchi
Most 'ir' verbs follow this pattern, however watch out for 'oir' words such as voir, savoir and pouvoir as they are conjugated the same as 're' verbs.
When using passé composé 're' verbs use a 'u' to designate past tense. For example, the word vendre drops the 're' and adds a 'u' to give vendu.
More examples:
entendre (to hear) → entendu
perdre (to lose) → perdu
repondre (to reply) → repondu
attendre (to wait) → attendu
fondre (to melt) → fondu
Most 'oir' verbs, such as voir, pouvoir and savoir are conjugated into passé composé in a similar way. For these verbs, only the first letter remains, and the rest of the word is replaced by a 'u'.
i.e.
voir (to see) → vu
pouvoir (to be able to) → pu
savoir (to know) → su
Practice turning verbs into their passé composé counterparts soon you will become familiar and comfortable with the different endings.
thank you!!! I'm taking an intermediate French class and jumped in assuming I remembered my last high school French class 30+ years ago!!! ack! and all French instruction has me missing some important details. This has been so helpful!! 🤓
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