Stage 3 · A2
The passé composé with être
The passé composé with être: progressive explanation, topic-specific examples, guided exercises and a corrected assessment.
1. Objective
By the end, you will recognise and use “The passé composé with être” correctly.
2. Discover
Compare: elle est arrivée; ils sont partis; nous sommes venus; elle est née. Which clue helps you recognise passé composé avec être?
3. Understand
To understand “The passé composé with être”, start from the examples rather than an abstract definition. Identify the subject first, then the verb form, then what the sentence says about time or intention.
Start with the subject and time reference. Only then choose the tense or verb form: word-for-word translation often leads to the wrong tense.
4. Guided practice
5. Independent practice
6. Write / speak
Say what you want to mean first, then express it with “The passé composé with être”. Read it again as if you were receiving it.
7. Check your learning
8. Remember
For passé composé avec être, identify the context first, then the form carrying the useful information. Always check your answer in a complete sentence.
9. Now I can…
- I can recognise “The passé composé with être” in a new example.
- I can justify my choice and create an example.
