past participle or adjective?

MelodyC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

past participle or adjective?

Note that the past participle agrees with the subject of the auxiliary être.


The above is quoted from the lesson.  I wonder if the "past participle" now serves as an adjective and that is the reason for the agreement, not the use of the verb être per se.  If that is the case it seems to me to be a much easier way to understand the construction of the passive voice.  

The explanation seems to focus on the verb être with the use of bold for être rather than the subject agreement, so it's easy to get confused.  (I tried to use "bold" here but it didn't work, so pls. see statement as it appears in the lesson.)

Going back to an earlier lesson which had this sentence in a quiz question:

Je vais être dévoré par les morts vivants

I went round and round trying to figure out what part of speech dévoré was.  I finally decided it was being used as an adjective (but I admit I am not !00% sure).   Hence my question above.

see that question below (not from me)

Conjugate verbs in the near future in French using aller + infinitive (Le Futur Proche)

See below.   The use of être plus the past participle should be discussed/explained...just say'n :))Non ! Je ________ dévoré par les morts vivants !No! I'm going to be devoured by the living dead!HINT: Conjugate être (to be) in Le Futur Proche


Asked 4 years ago
MelodyC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I have just found this question I asked a year ago.  I still find the sentence confusing.  Is the sentence in the passive voice?  

past participle or adjective?

Note that the past participle agrees with the subject of the auxiliary être.


The above is quoted from the lesson.  I wonder if the "past participle" now serves as an adjective and that is the reason for the agreement, not the use of the verb être per se.  If that is the case it seems to me to be a much easier way to understand the construction of the passive voice.  

The explanation seems to focus on the verb être with the use of bold for être rather than the subject agreement, so it's easy to get confused.  (I tried to use "bold" here but it didn't work, so pls. see statement as it appears in the lesson.)

Going back to an earlier lesson which had this sentence in a quiz question:

Je vais être dévoré par les morts vivants

I went round and round trying to figure out what part of speech dévoré was.  I finally decided it was being used as an adjective (but I admit I am not !00% sure).   Hence my question above.

see that question below (not from me)

Conjugate verbs in the near future in French using aller + infinitive (Le Futur Proche)

See below.   The use of être plus the past participle should be discussed/explained...just say'n :))Non ! Je ________ dévoré par les morts vivants !No! I'm going to be devoured by the living dead!HINT: Conjugate être (to be) in Le Futur Proche


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...