COD before avoir past participle

Question

Hi. The section “if only she had let them” is translated as “si seulement elle les avait laissé faire”, but should this be “si seulement elle les avait laissés faire”?

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Brian,

this is one of a number of ( sometimes quite complicated ) exceptions to ‘ the exception of past participle agreement with avoir conjugations ‘.

It is easier to suggest the following links for those who are interested in this. In this case it occurs, as I understand it, because ‘ avait laissé ‘ ( the verb laisser, in fact ) is a semi-auxiliary verb, followed by an infinitive.

Fortunately, it rarely makes any difference in speech, and is a niche part of French grammar that many French native speakers don’t know either!

You could also use an AI bot of your choice ( I use Claude.ai, unassociated I elieve with the megalith companies ) to get more explanation - I have seen a number of different grammatical explanations, but in the end just recognising it as a case that is different is easier, I think.

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/semi-auxiliary-verbs/

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/agreement-with-direct-objects/

Brian Earl · Answer

Interesting (and advanced!). Thanks Maarten