Question about the past participle agreeing when used with 'avoir' in the writing exercise 'A Bad Matchmaker'

Question

Bonjour à tous!The phrase is: "Après qu'ils sont arrivés et que nous les avons présentés, nous les avons laissé faire connaissance."I have reviewed the lesson 'Special cases when the past participle agrees...' as well as, student comments going back three years, and l am stumped as to why the past participle of, "...nous les avons laissé faire connaissance" does not agree with the direct object pronoun 'les' (Stéphane and Aline). I understand that "présentés" agrees through the subordinate clause with 'que'. Why would 'laissé' not do the same with it's own direct object pronoun? ... assuming l have it right that both 'les' are direct object pronouns ... Merci!

Accepted Answer

I think I answered that in the comments to the lesson you mention, but in case you missed it, here is a direct link:
https://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/il-nous-a-laisse-partir

Answer

Scout, I am fairly certain that despite there being a preceding direct object pronoun here (les), this is an unusual exception that applies to a limited number of verbs in that there is an infinitive verb following laisser, and that infinitive ‘holds’ the place of a direct object.

In this case the verbal expression ‘ faire connaissance ‘ is a direct object that follows the verb, and no agreement occurs.

https://www.carleton.edu/french/resources/language-tools/grammar/agreement_pastparticiple/

PS For some reason Alan’s answer only appeared to me after submitting my response. I can now change my response to ‘ I am certain. . .’.

Answer

Merci Alan et Maarten! 😀 Alan, your previous entry had not emerged for me either. Thank you for giving me the link.

Answer

I wonder how many French natives would get this one correct and know the reason why. ;)