Most verbs use either avoir or être as the auxiliary verb in Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) (or other compound tense), but retourner uses both, depending on its grammatical usage* and what it means in the sentence.
*Grammaphile's Corner : the technical grammatical distinction between these cases is actually whether the verb is used in a transitive or intransitive manner.
- The transitive version (the version with a direct object) uses avoir.
- The intransitive version (lacking a direct object), uses être.
- The transitive version (the version with a direct object) uses avoir.
- The intransitive version (lacking a direct object), uses être.
Using avoir or être with the verb RETOURNER in Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) in French
être + retourné [quelque part]
= to go back [somewhere]
= to return [somewhere]
Note that in each case where être is the auxilliary, the verb retourner is followed by a preposition (en, sur, dans, à etc.).
So, in these cases retourner is usually about going back somewhere, or returning somewhere.
So, in these cases retourner is usually about going back somewhere, or returning somewhere.
ATTENTION
Retourner means to go back / home whereas revenir means to come back.
avoir + retourné [quelque chose]
= to turn [something] upside down
= to turn [something] inside out
= to turn [something] back to front
When retourner is followed immediately by a noun (as opposed to a preposition), it uses avoir as the auxiliary, like most verbs.
ATTENTION:
Retourner never means to return (something) in the context of a shop for example.
In French, we use rapporter (to bring back) or échanger [quelque chose] instead:
In French, we use rapporter (to bring back) or échanger [quelque chose] instead:
Here is the list of all "two-auxiliary" verbs in compound tenses:
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