Adjective or past tense?

Jillian M.C1Kwiziq community member

Adjective or past tense?

Can you explain why 'surprise' doesn't have an acute accent on the 'e'?

Asked 1 year ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

‘Surprendre’ is an irregular -re verb (prendre, apprendre reprendre etc), the past participle is simply “surpris”, with ‘surprise’ being the adjectival form with feminine gender agreement. 

‘Surprise’ is either a (feminine) noun or feminine adjectival form in French. There is no verb ‘surpriser ’.

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/verb-conjugations/surprendre/

Conjugate prendre and derivatives (+avoir) in the compound past in French (Le Passé Composé)

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

The infinitive of the verb "to surprise" is surprendre. And like the verb prendre itself, it forms the past participle as surpris. There's also a noun "the surprise", which is la surprise.

Jillian M.C1Kwiziq community member

Thank you, most helpful.

Adjective or past tense?

Can you explain why 'surprise' doesn't have an acute accent on the 'e'?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...