In the previous lesson, we looked at the perfect tense and learned that the verb being conjugated in the perfect tense could have either “avoir” or “être” as the auxiliary. That lesson focused on “avoir”; today’s lesson will look at how “être” is used as an auxiliary.
Here are some things to remember:
• The conjugation rule is the same for “être” as it is for “avoir” — the verb is composed of the auxiliary and the past participle in the perfect tense.
• Unlike verbs that use the auxiliary “avoir,” those that are using “être” must have agreement between the past participle and the gender or number of the subject.
Pronominal verbs: These are verbs that have a reflexive pronoun, such as “me,” “te,” and “se,” placed between the subject and the verb. We will look at this type of verb more in-depth in another lesson
Example:
Listen to Week 2 Day 4 Track 1
Se laver = Il s’est lavé. (S + reflexive pronoun + auxiliary + past participle)
Movement verbs
This is a group of verbs that refer to movement or physical activity of some kind; they do not usually have an object complement.
Speaking Practice 1
Tips: You probably know the rules regarding the past partiple for a regular verb by now. Just make sure that you don’t let the irregular verbs trip you up; take your time, don’t rush them, and remember that “practice makes perfect.”
Take a look at the dialogue:
Below, you will find some new phrases and vocabulary words that will help you to describe your daily routine and activities.
Daily Routine Vocabulary
Speaking Practice 2
A Quick Recap of this Lesson
Sharpen Your Knowledge with Exercises
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Listen to the dialogue and answer the following questions.
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Listen to the dialogue and answer the exercise.
La journée de la famille de Michel (A day in Michel’s family)
La mère de Michel se réveille tous les jours à cinq heures du matin pour préparer le petit déjeuner. (Michel’s mother wakes up every day at five in the morning to prepare breakfast.)
Les enfants par contre se réveillent une heure plus tard pour ranger la chambre, se doucher, prendre le petit déjeuner avant de partir à l’école. (The children, however, wake up an hour later to tidy up their rooms, take a shower, and have breakfast before leaving for school.)
C’est le père qui conduit les enfants à l’école et il part travailler au bureau après. (It is the father who drives the children to school and goes to work at the office later.)
Pendant ce temps ; la mère de Michel fait les courses au supermarché et prépare le déjeuner. (Meanwhile,Michel’s mother goes shopping at the supermarket and prepares lunch.)
Chaque soir, la famille regarde la télévision avant de se coucher. (Each evening, the family watches television before going to bed.)
Are the activities below part of Michel’s family’s daily routine? Answer with yes or no.
Responses