The perfect tense The perfect tense is used

We’re going to start by concentrating on the regular verbs. When you look a

Firstly, when forming the perfect tense, you need to use the correct part of

Secondly, you need to add the correct verb, but you will need to change

Let’s look at some examples: to play = jouer • I played needs to

to finish = finir to wait = attendre • we finished needs to use

However, as always, there are some ‘naughty’ verbs that have an irregular ending! Here

Finally, there is a small group of verbs that use the verb ‘être’ instead

monter – to go up tomber – to fall rester – to stay rentrer

You have to remember that with the verbs that use ‘être’, you have to

All ‘reflexive’ verbs eg. ‘se laver, ’ ‘se coucher’, ‘s’habiller’ etc. also use ‘être’

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The perfect tense • The perfect tense is used to talk about events that have happened in the past. • There are five different groups of verbs that you have to master: • regular –er verbs • irregular verbs • regular –ir verbs • ‘MRS VAN DER TRAMP’ verbs • regular –re verbs

We’re going to start by concentrating on the regular verbs. When you look a verb up in the dictionary you will see that it always ends in: -er -ir -re Most verbs are regular – this means that they behave well and follow the rules!

Firstly, when forming the perfect tense, you need to use the correct part of the verb ‘avoir’: j’ai (I) nous avons (we) tu as (you) vous avez (you) il/elle/on a (he/she/we) ils/elles ont (they) Remember: Sometimes you will use the person’s name rather than he/she/we etc. YOU MUST LEARN THIS

Secondly, you need to add the correct verb, but you will need to change the ending: -er verbs: regarder regardé -ir verbs: finir fini -re verbs: attendre attendu

Let’s look at some examples: to play = jouer • I played needs to use j’ai • -er verbs become é • Therefore, I played = j’ai joué • he played needs to use il a • -er verbs become é • Therefore, he played = il a joué

to finish = finir to wait = attendre • we finished needs to use nous avons • -ir verbs become i • Therefore, we finished = nous avons fini • she waited needs to use elle a • -re verbs become u • Therefore, she waited = elle a attendu

However, as always, there are some ‘naughty’ verbs that have an irregular ending! Here are some of the most common: prendre pris (took) mettre mis (put) voir vu (saw) boire bu (drank) lire lu (read) écrire écrit (wrote) avoir eu (had) dire dit (said) faire fait(did/made) pouvoir pu (could) YOU MUST LEARN THESE

Finally, there is a small group of verbs that use the verb ‘être’ instead of ‘avoir’. Remember that you still have to always use the correct part: Je suis (I) nous sommes (we) Tu es (you) vous êtes (you) Il/elle/on est (he/she/we) ils/elles sont (they) AGAIN, YOU MUST LEARN THIS

monter – to go up tomber – to fall rester – to stay rentrer – to re-enter sortir – to go out arriver – to arrive venir – to come mourir – to die aller – to go partir – to leave naître – to be born déscendre – to go down entrer – to go in retourner – to return Mrs Van Der Tramp!!

You have to remember that with the verbs that use ‘être’, you have to make the verb agree: e. g. Il est allé Elle est allée Nous sommes allés Elles sont allées

All ‘reflexive’ verbs eg. ‘se laver, ’ ‘se coucher’, ‘s’habiller’ etc. also use ‘être’ to form the perfect tense: Je me suis couché(e) Nous nous sommes lavés Ils se sont habillés etc.