in the fillin the blank quiz for the plus-que -parfait, my answer was marked as nearly correct yet i do not understand why
Look at these reflexive verbs in Le Plus-que-Parfait:
Tu t'étais maquillée vite car nous étions en retard.You had put your make-up on fast because we were late.
Marie s'était habillée dans le noir pour ne pas le réveiller ce jour-là.Marie'd got dressed in the dark in order not to wake him that day.
Nous nous étions rappelés où c'était, mais c'était trop tard.We had remembered where it was, but it was too late.
Note that in Le Plus-que-Parfait, reflexive verbs use the auxiliary être.
The order is as follows:
reflexive pronoun (m'/t'/s'/nous/vous/s') + être in L'Imparfait + past participle
Note also that because of the auxiliary être, the past participle must agree with the subject of the verb.
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Nous nous étions rappelés où c'était, mais c'était trop tard.We had remembered where it was, but it was too late.
Tu t'étais maquillée vite car nous étions en retard.You had put your make-up on fast because we were late.
Q&A Forum 5 questions, 9 answers
SueKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
an answer marked nearly correct when visually exactly the same written
Asked 2 months ago
Hi Sue and Anita,
Please re-post this question using the 'Report it' button in your correction board as it will link directly to the quiz in question and it will be easier for us to answer your query...
AnitaKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I had exactly the same happen to me with “Quand on s’était arrêtées dans un café”. Why was I nearly correct ?
Sue asked:View original
an answer marked nearly correct when visually exactly the same written
in the fillin the blank quiz for the plus-que -parfait, my answer was marked as nearly correct yet i do not understand why
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JacquiKwiziq community member
why is you had gone to bed vous étiez couchés when it is reflexive?
because it is reflexive should it not be vous étiez vous couchés?
Asked 1 year ago
Hi Jacqui,
The verb in 'Vous étiez couchés.' is not reflexive but the verb coucher in the passive voice: 'Etre couché' = to be in bed.
You can 'coucher un bébé' (put a baby to bed) - active voice
It is the same for 'être allongé' (to be lying down),
'être debout' (to be up/ standing up),
'être assis' ( to be sat) etc....which all describe a state of being.
I believe it is the same in English ?
If you say 'vous vous êtes couchés' (you went to bed) you will use the reflexive 'se coucher' for the action of going to bed.
Hope this helps!
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Hi Jacqui,
it should be vous vous étiez couchés.
Subject + reflexive pronoun + form of être + participle.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Jacqui asked:View original
why is you had gone to bed vous étiez couchés when it is reflexive?
because it is reflexive should it not be vous étiez vous couchés?
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StevenKwiziq community member
Why are the 's' in "cette fois-là" and the 't' in "cette nuit-là" pronounced?
Asked 1 year ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Steven !
This was a bad audio file, as indeed you would never pronounced the "s" in "fois", nor the "t" in "nuit" !
Thank you for letting us know, I've now fixed the sounds files :)
Merci et bonne journée !
Steven asked:View original
Why are the 's' in "cette fois-là" and the 't' in "cette nuit-là" pronounced?
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CathyKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I was wondering the same thing. I guess it's a mistake.
Asked 1 year ago
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Aurélie, this is indeed frustrating. Practically everybody has a problem posting questions here. Only the message title is showing which makes it guesswork to figure out what people have been asking. And it must be frustrating for people typing in their question only to have it disappear on them.
I have brought this to the attention of Rowan at least twice. This has been going on for months! I sincerely hope this can be fixed quickly.
-- Chris.
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Chris !
We released a new update on the site yesterday, which fixes these issues with the Q&A :)
Please let us know if you encounter further problems :)
Bonne journée !
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Kristin Kwiziq community member
Why is the "s" pronounced?
"Je m'étais trompé de date cette FOIS-LÀ."
...Why is the "s" in "fois-la" pronounced?
Asked 2 years ago
Hi Kristin,
I have listened to the recording and the 's' of 'fois' is not pronounced.
In fact I cannot think of a case when it would be ...
Hope this helps!
Kristin asked:View original
Why is the "s" pronounced?
"Je m'étais trompé de date cette FOIS-LÀ."
...Why is the "s" in "fois-la" pronounced?
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