It’d be nice to have an example of what to do with the past participle of être verbs when using "on" when it means "we". I can’t find this covered in either of the modules On : we.
What about "on"?
- « Back to Q&A Forum
- « Previous questionNext question »
Anne D.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
What about "on"?
This question relates to:French lesson "Agreeing past participle with subject's gender and number with (+ être) verbs in the compound past in French (Le Passé Composé)"
Asked 1 year ago
The quick answer is that on meaning "we" asks for the plural of the participle, while the impersonal on uses the singular of the participle.
On est allés à un café. -- We went for a coffee.
On est allé à la lune. -- We (=mankind) went to the moon.
Jim J. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Anne,
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/subject-pronoun-on/
It is an interesting point that you raise. I recommend that you access the link above where Laura Lawless addresses this issue.
I think that you will find it interesting and hopefully it will provide a satisfactory answer to your point.
Bonne journée
Jim
Anne D.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thanks for your replies. I just found this discussion of a Listening exercise which implies that Larousse is more in favour of past participle agreement with être when "on" = "nous" than Le bon usage/ Lawless. I do realise it was a rather niche question, given this is mainly an oral usage!
https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/questions/view/follow-on-qu-on-etait-eberlues
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