Susan asked: " doesn't être+descendre mean come down from AND get off of?"

Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
27/10/16
Hello Susan !
The nuance here is as such: "être descendu" can mean "to come down (from)" in the sense of leaving (something), such as "I came down from the attic" which implies leaving the attic.
However, "avoir descendu" would be "to come down (something)", as in being on something and sliding/climbing/going down it.
Therefore here to say "Jack came down the magic beanstalk." (i.e. progressed down its surface), you would say "Jacques A descendu le haricot magique.".
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Susan
Kwiziq community member
27/10/16
Aha.
Merci.
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Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
27 October 2016
2 replies
Susan asked: " doesn't être+descendre mean come down from AND get off of?"
"Jacques est descendu du haricot magique." (Jack got off the magic beanstalk.)
This question relates to:
French lesson "Descendre can be used with avoir or être in Le Passé Composé... and changes meaning"