Être Passé Composé: Movement Verbs, Agreement Rules, And More

If the être passé composé keeps confusing you, it’s usually because its rules haven’t been broken down properly. This tense depends on two things: using être and applying gender-number agreement. The verbs that take être fall into clear groups connected to movement, state changes, and reflexive actions. This guide explains the structure, when to use it, how agreement functions, and which traps most learners fall into. Examples and clean tables make everything easier to understand and apply.

What Is The Être Passé Composé?

The être passé composé is the version of the past tense that uses être as the auxiliary instead of avoir. Only a small group of verbs use this structure, but they appear constantly in everyday French. These verbs usually express:

1. Movement from one place to another
2. A change in state or condition
3. Reflexive actions (all of them)

The formula is simple:

Subject + Être (conjugated) + Past participle (+ agreement when needed)

Examples:
Elle est venue.
She came.
Ils sont arrivés.
They arrived.

The Core Rule: Être Requires Agreement

Unlike the avoir passé composé, the être structure requires the past participle to agree with the subject.

Subject	Ending Rule	Example
Feminine singular	+e	Elle est allée
Masculine plural	+s	Ils sont partis
Feminine plural	+es	Elles sont entrées

Agreement is the defining feature of the être passé composé.

The 17 Key Verbs That Use Être

These are the classical movement/change verbs often grouped together for memorization. What matters is understanding the logic behind them.

The Verbs

Verb	Past Participle	English Meaning
aller	allé	to go
venir	venu	to come
arriver	arrivé	to arrive
partir	parti	to leave
entrer	entré	to enter
sortir	sorti	to go out
monter	monté	to go up
descendre	descendu	to go down
naître	né	to be born
mourir	mort	to die
rester	resté	to stay
retourner	retourné	to return
rentrer	rentré	to go back in
tomber	tombé	to fall
passer*	passé	to pass by
revenir	revenu	to come back
devenir	devenu	to become

*Passer uses être only when it means “to pass by.”

Why These Verbs Use Être (The Logic)

These verbs express changes in location, position, or state. French treats these verbs differently because they describe transitions rather than direct actions on objects.

Examples of transitions:
Changing location: venir → going toward the speaker
Changing height: monter, descendre
Changing state: naître, mourir
Changing presence: arriver, partir

This is why these verbs pattern together naturally.

Reflexive Verbs Also Use Être

Every reflexive verb, no matter the meaning, uses être in the passe composé.

Examples:
Je me suis levé.
I got up.
Elle s’est réveillée.
She woke up.

But agreement changes depending on whether the reflexive pronoun is a direct or indirect object. You’ll see this in the reflexive section later.

How To Conjugate Être In The Passé Composé

Être is the auxiliary. It is conjugated in the present tense, and the main verb becomes a past participle.

Subject	Être (present)
je	suis
tu	es
il/elle	est
nous	sommes
vous	êtes
ils/elles	sont

Example structure:
Nous sommes arrivés.
We arrived.

Agreement With Être: The Why And How

Agreement follows a simple rule:

The past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number.

Examples

Elle est montée.
She went up.

Ils sont devenus médecins.
They became doctors.

Elles sont arrivées tôt.
They arrived early.

Exceptions And Confusions

Some verbs can use avoir when they take a direct object.

Example:
Elle a monté les valises.
She carried up the suitcases.
(monter uses avoir because someone is acting on an object)

Elle est montée.
She went up.
(no object → uses être)

This small detail prevents the most common learner mistakes.

How To Form The Être Passé Composé Step By Step

Forming the être passé composé looks complicated until the pattern becomes familiar. Every verb in this group follows the same structure:

Subject + être (present) + past participle + agreement

Once this pattern becomes automatic, every other detail fits into place. The auxiliary does the heavy lifting, and the past participle stays stable except for agreement endings.

Step 1: Conjugate Être In The Present

Être is the only variable in the structure. It carries the tense, so the present form of être always appears.

Subject	Être (Present)
je	suis
tu	es
il/elle	est
nous	sommes
vous	êtes
ils/elles	sont

These forms remain the same no matter which verb follows.

Step 2: Add The Past Participle

Every verb has one fixed past participle. These are the participles commonly used with être.

Verb	Past Participle
aller	allé
sortir	sorti
arriver	arrivé
partir	parti
entrer	entré
monter	monté
descendre	descendu
rester	resté
tomber	tombé
retourner	retourné
rentrer	rentré
venir	venu
revenir	revenu
devenir	devenu
naître	né
mourir	mort
passer*	passé

(*Passer uses être only when it means “to pass by.”)

Step 3: Apply Agreement

Agreement is what makes the être passé composé unique. The past participle must match the subject’s gender and number.

Subject	Ending	Example
Masculine singular	no ending	Il est parti
Feminine singular	+ e	Elle est partie
Masculine plural	+ s	Ils sont partis
Feminine plural	+ es	Elles sont parties

The structure never changes. Only the letter endings change.

Step 4: Check Whether The Verb Uses Être Or Avoir

Most of these verbs always use être. A few switch to avoir when a direct object is attached.

Example with avoir:
Elle a monté les valises.
She carried the suitcases up.

Example with être:
Elle est montée.
She went up.

When the verb expresses movement by the subject alone, être is required. When the verb describes acting upon an object, avoir is used.

Step 5: Put Everything Together

A complete structure looks like this:

Subject + être (present) + past participle (with agreement)

Examples
Nous sommes arrivés.
We arrived.

Elle est tombée.
She fell.

Ils sont devenus amis.
They became friends.

Je suis né en avril.
I was born in April.

With these steps, the tense becomes easy to use consistently, even with trickier verbs like naître, mourir, or venir. The pattern never changes, which is why mastering the structure early makes the entire tense feel predictable.

When To Use Être Versus Avoir In The Passé Composé

Choosing between être and avoir in the passé composé becomes simple once the underlying logic is understood. Verbs do not switch randomly; they follow patterns linked to movement, transitions, and the presence of direct objects. Understanding these patterns prevents confusion and makes the tense feel structured and predictable.

Movement And Change-Of-State Verbs Use Être

Most verbs that change a person’s location, position, or state use être in the passé composé. These verbs do not act on an object; instead, the subject undergoes a transition. This is why verbs like aller, entrer, partir, tomber, and venir naturally fall into the être group.

Examples
Elle est entrée.
She entered.
Ils sont tombés.
They fell.

These verbs focus on the subject’s movement or transformation rather than an action directed at an object.

Avoir Is Used When The Verb Takes A Direct Object

Several verbs from the être list switch to avoir when they are followed by a direct object. The presence of an object changes the meaning of the verb and transforms the structure into an action applied to something.

Examples
Elle a monté les valises.
She carried the suitcases upstairs.
Il a sorti la poubelle.
He took out the trash.

The verbs monter, descendre, sortir, rentrer, retourner, and passer can operate in both systems depending on whether the sentence includes an object.

When The Verb Describes Movement Alone

If there is no direct object, and the verb simply describes going in, going up, returning, or similar transitions, être is used.

Examples
Elle est montée.
She went up.
Il est sorti.
He went out.

Here, the action is performed by the subject alone, not on an object.

Using Être With Verbs Of Birth And Death

Naître and mourir always use être. These represent major changes of state rather than physical movement, but they follow the same logic: the subject undergoes a transition, not an action.

Examples
Elle est née en juin.
She was born in June.
Il est mort hier.
He died yesterday.

These verbs never switch to avoir.

Using Être With Reflexive Verbs

Every reflexive verb uses être in the passé composé. The reflexive pronoun changes the meaning of the verb, making the action reflect back on the subject.

Examples
Je me suis réveillé.
I woke up.
Elle s’est préparée.
She got ready.

Reflexive verbs form a complete subcategory that always uses être, though agreement rules vary based on direct and indirect objects.

Verbs That Can Switch Auxiliaries

Certain verbs belong to a special group that can use either auxiliary depending on meaning. These verbs include:

monter
descendre
sortir
rentrer
retourner
passer

When these verbs describe the subject’s movement, être is used. When they act on an object, avoir is used.

Examples
Nous sommes rentrés.
We came back.
Nous avons rentré la voiture.
We brought the car inside.

Understanding this dual structure allows flexibility and prevents mistakes.

Why French Uses Two Auxiliaries

The auxiliary choice depends on whether the verb expresses a transition in the subject or an action on something else. The distinction exists to make sentences clearer and to preserve the meaning of movement-based verbs. Without it, many phrases would become ambiguous.

How Native Speakers Choose Instinctively

Native speakers do not memorize lists. They rely on meaning. The brain automatically selects être when the verb expresses motion, entry, exit, return, or a shift in state. It selects avoir when the verb affects an object. Adopting this mindset makes the structure feel more natural.

A Quick Test For Choosing The Auxiliary

A practical rule helps determine whether to use être or avoir:

1. Is the verb describing movement, entry, exit, or a change in state?
   → Use être.
2. Is the verb acting on an object?
   → Use avoir.
3. Is the verb reflexive?
   → Use être.

This simple logic covers nearly every situation.

Auxiliary Choice And Agreement Work Together

Once the auxiliary has been chosen correctly, agreement becomes straightforward. If être is used, the past participle agrees with the subject. If avoir is used, agreement only applies when a direct object appears before the verb.

Understanding these two systems together creates a solid foundation for accurate past-tense sentences.

Common Mistakes In The Être Passé Composé And How To Avoid Them

The être passé composé is simple once the logic clicks, but several recurring mistakes often slow learners down. Most errors come from misunderstanding agreement, mixing up auxiliary choices, or applying English logic to French. This section highlights the most common issues and explains how to fix them with clear, practical reasoning.

Confusing When To Use Être Or Avoir

One of the biggest obstacles is knowing which verbs take être and which take avoir. Learners often assume that all movement verbs always use être, but this is not true. Several movement verbs switch to avoir when they take a direct object. The key is identifying whether the verb expresses the subject’s movement or an action applied to an object.

Examples
Elle est sortie. (movement)
Elle a sorti la poubelle. (action on object)

Understanding this distinction immediately reduces errors.

Forgetting Agreement With Être

Agreement is essential in the être passé composé. Many mistakes happen when learners forget to add “e,” “s,” or “es” based on the subject. The rule is constant: the past participle must match the subject in gender and number.

Examples
Ils sont arrivés.
Elles sont arrivées.
Sheer repetition helps this rule become automatic.

Overapplying Agreement With Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs always use être, but not all require agreement. Mistakes appear when learners add agreement without checking whether the reflexive pronoun is a direct or indirect object. When the pronoun is indirect, the past participle stays unchanged.

Examples
Elle s’est lavée. (washing herself)
Elle s’est lavé les mains. (washing her hands)

The direct object determines whether agreement applies.

Using Être When The Verb Takes Avoir

Some students memorize lists without understanding meaning and apply être even when the verb’s structure clearly requires avoir. This creates incorrect sentences, especially with verbs like monter, descendre, passer, and sortir. Reviewing whether the action involves an object prevents this confusion.

Examples
Il a monté les cartons. (incorrect with être)
He lifted the boxes.

Understanding the action’s target ensures the auxiliary is correct.

Neglecting Plural Agreement

Plural agreement errors often appear because the ending may look small, but it changes meaning. When subjects include more than one person or item, the past participle must add “s,” regardless of gender composition.

Examples
Les enfants sont partis.
Marc et Julie sont arrivés.

Plural subjects always require an “s” unless the group is entirely feminine, in which case “es” is added.

Misplacing Adverbs

Learners sometimes place adverbs in awkward positions or mix English ordering. In the passé composé, common short adverbs appear between the auxiliary and the past participle. Longer expressions move to the end of the sentence.

Examples
Elle est déjà arrivée.
Ils sont partis très tôt ce matin.

Correct adverb placement helps sentences sound more natural.

Forgetting That Être Can Change Meaning

Verbs like monter, descendre, and sortir change meaning entirely depending on whether they use être or avoir. Ignoring this leads to phrases that sound unnatural or confusing.

Examples
Il est descendu. (He went down.)
Il a descendu la valise. (He brought the suitcase down.)

Recognizing this dual behavior avoids misunderstandings.

Using English Logic For Past Tense

English often relies on a single past tense where French distinguishes between completed actions and ongoing states. Applying English logic can cause learners to use être when no movement or transformation is involved. The best solution is to think in French concepts rather than translate directly.

Forgetting That Naître And Mourir Always Use Être

These verbs never take avoir, but learners sometimes assume otherwise because other verbs can switch auxiliaries. Remembering that these express irreversible states helps anchor the rule.

Examples
Elle est née.
Il est mort.

These verbs always keep the same structure.

Overthinking The Rules

Many errors come from trying to recall lists or exceptions instead of focusing on meaning. The easiest way to reduce mistakes is to anchor auxiliary choice to ideas: movement, state changes, and reflexive actions take être; everything else usually takes avoir unless an object shifts the meaning.

Ignoring The Role Of Context

Sometimes the meaning of the verb changes depending on context, and auxiliary choice must follow that meaning. Thinking about what the verb is doing in the sentence helps determine whether the structure requires être or avoir.

Understanding these mistakes and their solutions makes the être passé composé feel less technical and more intuitive. Once meaning and structure line up, confidence grows and usage becomes more automatic.

Practical Être Passé Composé Exercises With Answers

Exercises bring the être passé composé to life by showing how the rules behave in real sentences. These activities focus on auxiliary choice, agreement, reflexive structures, and verbs that can switch between être and avoir. Each exercise is followed by a clear answer so the logic becomes easy to follow.

Exercise 1: Choose The Correct Auxiliary (Être or Avoir)

Fill in the blanks with suis / es / est / sommes / êtes / sont or with the correct form of avoir.

1. Elle ___ montée rapidement.
2. Nous ___ sorti la voiture du garage.
3. Tu ___ arrivé en retard.
4. Ils ___ descendu les valises.
5. Je ___ tombé dans l’escalier.
6. Vous ___ retourné les documents hier.
7. Il ___ passé près de l’école.
8. Elles ___ passé une bonne journée.

Answers

1. est montée
2. avons sorti
3. es arrivé
4. ont descendu
5. suis tombé
6. avez retourné
7. est passé
8. ont passé

The difference depends entirely on whether the verb indicates movement by the subject alone (être) or an action on something (avoir).

Exercise 2: Add The Correct Past Participle Ending

Choose between no ending, e, s, or es based on subject gender and number.

1. Elles sont arriv__.
2. Il est rest__.
3. Marie et Julie sont tomb__.
4. Nous sommes devenu__.
5. Je suis né__.
6. Les garçons sont entr__.
7. Elle est morte__.
8. Ils sont revenu__.

Answers

1. arrivées
2. resté
3. tombées
4. devenus
5. née (if speaker is female) / né (if speaker is male)
6. entrés
7. morte
8. revenus

Agreement always follows the subject when être is used.

Exercise 3: Être vs Avoir With Switching Verbs

Decide whether the verb should use être or avoir based on meaning.

1. Elle ___ montée au troisième étage.
2. Elle ___ monté les cartons.
3. Ils ___ rentrés tard hier.
4. Ils ___ rentré la voiture.
5. Je ___ sorti avec des amis.
6. Je ___ sorti le chien.
7. Nous ___ descendu pour voir ce qui se passait.
8. Nous ___ descendu les sacs.

Answers

1. est montée
2. a monté
3. sont rentrés
4. ont rentré
5. suis sorti
6. ai sorti
7. sommes descendus
8. avons descendu

Movement = être. Action on an object = avoir.

Exercise 4: Reflexive Verbs And Agreement

Rewrite each sentence in the passé composé. Remember that agreement depends on whether the reflexive pronoun is a direct object.

1. Elle se prépare.
2. Ils se réveillent.
3. Elle se lave les mains.
4. Nous nous habillons.
5. Elles se blessent.
6. Il se coupe le doigt.
7. Elles se téléphonent.
8. Je me maquille.

Answers

1. Elle s’est préparée.
2. Ils se sont réveillés.
3. Elle s’est lavé les mains. (no agreement)
4. Nous nous sommes habillés.
5. Elles se sont blessées.
6. Il s’est coupé le doigt. (no agreement)
7. Elles se sont téléphoné. (no agreement)
8. Je me suis maquillé(e).

Direct-object reflexives take agreement. Indirect-object reflexives do not.

Exercise 5: Correct The Mistakes

Find and correct the errors in agreement or auxiliary choice.

1. Elle a tombé hier.
2. Ils sont sorti la poubelle.
3. Nous avons montées.
4. Elle est parlé à son ami.
5. Ils sont retournées tard.
6. Je suis pris le train.
7. Elles ont venues ensemble.
8. Nous sommes rentré la voiture.

Answers

1. Elle est tombée.
2. Ils ont sorti la poubelle.
3. Elles sont montées.
4. Elle a parlé à son ami.
5. Ils sont retournés.
6. J’ai pris le train.
7. Elles sont venues ensemble.
8. Nous avons rentré la voiture.

Most mistakes come from confusing auxiliary choice, forgetting agreement, or assuming être applies to all movement verbs.

Exercise 6: Fill In The Blanks (Mixed Practice)

1. Elles ___ entrées vers 20h.
2. Tu ___ tombé par terre.
3. Nous ___ passé devant la mairie.
4. Ils ___ passé une soirée tranquille.
5. Elle ___ née en hiver.
6. Vous ___ devenu célèbres.
7. Je ___ allé au marché.
8. Ils ___ sorti les chaises.

Answers

1. sont entrées
2. es tombé
3. avons passé
4. ont passé
5. est née
6. êtes devenus
7. suis allé(e)
8. ont sorti

These exercises reinforce auxiliary choice, agreement, and meaning-based logic—the three pillars of the être passé composé.

What Is The Être Passé Composé Used For

The être passé composé describes past actions where the subject moves, changes place, or experiences a shift in state. It appears with verbs like aller, venir, entrer, sortir, and naître. Because these verbs describe transitions, the tense highlights movement rather than a completed action on an object. Its meaning becomes clearer once auxiliary choice and agreement rules start feeling natural.

Why Some Verbs Use Être Instead Of Avoir

These verbs express movement or transformation. They do not act on objects but instead describe what happens to the subject. This is why aller, partir, tomber, revenir, and similar verbs automatically use être. When a verb focuses on where someone goes or how they change, être becomes the only auxiliary that fits the meaning.

How To Know If A Verb Uses Être Or Avoir

The easiest method is meaning-based. If the verb expresses movement, entry, exit, or a change of state, être is used. If the verb acts on an object, avoir is required. A few verbs can switch auxiliaries depending on meaning, but the logic follows whether the action describes a transition or an action on something.

Do All Reflexive Verbs Use Être

Yes. Every reflexive verb uses être in the passé composé because the action reflects back on the subject. However, agreement depends on whether the reflexive pronoun is direct or indirect. When it is indirect, the past participle does not change. Understanding this distinction prevents common errors with reflexive structures.

What Is Agreement In The Être Passé Composé

Agreement means the past participle must match the subject’s gender and number. Masculine singular uses no ending. Feminine adds an “e,” masculine plural adds “s,” and feminine plural adds “es.” This rule applies to all verbs that use être, including reflexive ones, unless the pronoun is indirect.

Why Reflexive Verbs Sometimes Do Not Take Agreement

Agreement depends on the reflexive pronoun’s role. When the pronoun acts as a direct object, agreement is required. When it is indirect, the participle stays unchanged. For example, “Elle s’est lavé les mains” has no agreement because “les mains” is the direct object. Identifying objects makes the rule predictable.

Why Some Verbs Switch Between Être And Avoir

Certain verbs like monter, descendre, rentrer, retourner, sortir, and passer can use either auxiliary depending on meaning. When they describe the subject’s movement, être is used. When they act on an object, avoir is required. The shift changes the meaning, making auxiliary choice essential for clarity.

Do Irregular Verbs Affect Agreement

Irregular verbs change their past participle forms but follow the same agreement rules as regular ones. Whether the verb is mort, né, venu, or devenu, the ending still adjusts based on gender and number. The irregularity affects the participle shape, not the way agreement functions in the structure.

How To Place Adverbs In The Être Passé Composé

Most short adverbs like déjà, souvent, and bien appear between the auxiliary and the past participle. Longer expressions move to the end of the sentence. Correct placement helps the sentence flow naturally and matches the rhythm native speakers expect when describing past actions clearly and smoothly.

Why Naître And Mourir Always Use Être

These verbs describe irreversible states rather than actions performed on objects. Birth and death represent transitions the subject undergoes, so être becomes the only auxiliary that matches the meaning. They also always require agreement since the participle reflects the subject’s gender and number directly.

What Makes The Être Passé Composé Difficult

Two main challenges cause confusion: agreement rules and verbs that switch auxiliaries based on meaning. Learners often rely on memorization instead of understanding the underlying logic. Focusing on direct objects, movement, and transformation makes the tense feel more systematic and easier to apply in daily communication.

How To Avoid Agreement Errors

A reliable approach is identifying the subject, determining whether the verb uses être, and checking if the reflexive pronoun is direct or indirect. If the subject undergoes the action and the pronoun is direct, agreement applies. If the verb uses avoir or the pronoun is indirect, no agreement is needed.

Can The Être Passé Composé Describe Completed Actions

Yes, even though these verbs describe movement or transitions, the tense still expresses completed past events. It works like any passé composé construction but focuses on where the subject went or what change occurred. The completion is implied through context rather than through the type of auxiliary used.

Does Spoken French Always Follow Agreement Rules

Native speakers follow agreement naturally in speech even if the endings are not always audible. In writing, the endings must be correct because written French depends heavily on visual agreement. Paying attention to gender and number keeps both spoken and written forms accurate and clear.

Why Passer Uses Être Sometimes And Avoir Other Times

The meaning determines the auxiliary. When passer describes passing by a place, être is used. When passer involves spending time or acting on an object, avoir is required. This flexibility lets the verb express different ideas depending on the structure and the role of the direct object.

How Reflexive Verbs Affect Auxiliary Choice

Reflexive verbs automatically require être because the action circles back to the subject. The reflexive pronoun changes the meaning and structure of the verb, placing the subject at the center of the action. Agreement depends on whether the pronoun functions as a direct object or an indirect one.

Does Être Change The Meaning Of Some Verbs

Yes. When certain verbs use être, they usually describe the subject’s movement. When the same verbs use avoir, the meaning shifts toward acting on an object. This is especially true for monter, descendre, and sortir. Recognizing this distinction helps avoid confusion and keeps sentences precise.

What Is The Connection Between Meaning And Auxiliary Choice

Auxiliary choice follows meaning, not memorized lists. If the verb describes the subject moving or experiencing a state change, être fits the logic. If the action targets an object or expresses a concrete result, avoir becomes the natural choice. This approach simplifies the entire tense.

How To Practice The Être Passé Composé Effectively

A strong method is mixing sentence transformation, auxiliary selection, agreement exercises, and real-life descriptions. Practicing with movement-based verbs, reflexives, and switchable verbs builds fluency. Repetition helps the brain internalize patterns, making the tense feel automatic and predictable in everyday use.

Why Agreement Feels More Complicated With Reflexive Verbs

Confusion usually appears because the reflexive pronoun can act as either a direct or indirect object. The participle only agrees when the pronoun is direct. When something else receives the action, agreement disappears. Learning to identify objects quickly removes most uncertainty.

Can Être Verbs Be Used Without Movement

Some verbs describe states rather than literal movement, such as rester or devenir. These still use être because they express changes related to the subject, not actions applied to objects. The logic remains consistent: the focus stays on the subject’s condition or transformation.

How To Differentiate Between Direct And Indirect Reflexives

The direct reflexive pronoun receives the action directly, meaning no other object follows the verb. When another noun receives the action, the reflexive pronoun is indirect. This difference decides whether agreement occurs. Identifying which part of the sentence receives the action clarifies the rule.

Why Agreement Still Applies When Être Is Silent In Speech

Even though gender and number endings may not be audible, French grammar requires them for clarity. Written French communicates distinctions that spoken language may blur. Maintaining agreement ensures that the sentence communicates precise information about the subject.

How To Build Confidence With The Être Passé Composé

Confidence grows through understanding meaning, practicing switchable verbs, and mastering agreement rules. As the patterns become familiar, sentences form naturally, and the auxiliary choice becomes instinctive. Seeing the tense as a logical system rather than a memorized list makes usage much easier.

Why The Être Passé Composé Matters For Fluency

Many common verbs rely on this structure, especially in stories, explanations, and conversations involving movement or personal transitions. Mastering it removes hesitation and helps create smooth, natural descriptions. Because these verbs appear constantly, understanding their behavior is essential for comfortable, fluent communication in French.