LE PARTICIPE / PARTICIPLES

 

LE PARTICIPE PRESENT / PRESENT PARTICIPLE

1. English equivalent:Roughly, the -ing form of the verb

2. Construction:usually, present tense nous stem + ant: aimant, tinissant, vendant

   1. Exceptions: avoir → ayant être → étant, savoir → sachant

3. Use:

   1. As an adjective: une fille souriante(a smiling girl). Note:The endings -e, -s, -es(f. sing., m. pi., f. pi.)must be added to form agreement with the noun orpronoun it modifies.

   2. As a verb: Sachant qu'ils étaient en retard, le garçons se sont dépêcnés.(Knowing that they were late, theboys hurried.)

   3. As the object of " en," to express while, upon, or by: On apprend en lisant. (one learns by reading.); En regardant cette peinture, j'ai commencé à aimer I'art.(Upon looking at that painting, I began to love art.)a. "Tout" is used before "en"to stress simultaneity and/or present a surprising contrast: J'ai mangé mon déjeuner tout en conduisant. (I ate my lunchwhile I was driving.) Tout en sachant qu'il ne I'aimait pas, la fille a pursuivi le garçon qu'elle adorait.(Eventhough she knew/ Knowing full well that he didn'tlove her, the girl pursued the boy she adored.)

 

LE PARTICIPE PASSE / PAST PARITICIPLE

1. English equivalent:Fried potatoes are yummy. My brain is fried.

2. Construction:Regular verbs:

-er		-ir		vendre
aimé		fini		vendu

Many verbs hove irregular past participles.

1. Use

   1. In all compound conjugated tenses. J'ai vendu la radio. (I sold the radio.)

   2. As an adjective (must agree in gender and numberwith noun it modifies). Tu es fatigué (e).(you aretired.)