In your lesson you say that demeurer, when used in the perfect tense with avoir or être, behaves in the opposite way to other two meaning verbs. Is that right? Does it not behave in the same way, ie. it takes être when intransitive and avoir when transitive?
Sorry, perhaps this is not right. For example, il a demeuré à Paris is an example of intransitive avoir use.
So, is the rule that we use être when the usage is intransitive and expresses a state of being?
Hi John,
Well spotted!
Let's look at the verb demeurer -
When it doesn't mean to reside somewhere but to remain, it will take the auxiliary être and it is a verb of state (describing a continuation of state like rester ) :
Nous sommes demeurés perplexes devant sa réaction
When it means to reside or live somewhere, it will take the auxiliary avoir -
Nous avons demeuré à Londres pendant dix ans
The same can be said for the verb 'vivre', but it is one of those verbs which are more pliable as it can be transitive, intransitive but takes 'avoir' regardless, very odd!
Vivre heureux, vivre dans la misère , vivre une belle expérience ---->
Nous avons vécu heureux , il a vécu dans une misère incroyable, Ils ont vécu une belle expérience ensemble etc.
Hope this helps!
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