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Table of Content Chapter 7 7.1.5 Formation of the plus-que-parfait

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Chapter 7: Die VHegangenheitszeiten

  7.1.5 Formation of the plus-que-parfait
The plus-que-parfait is formed the same way the English past perfect. We take the auxiliary in the past form and add the perfect participle. Now, we know that French uses the auxiliaries to be (être) and to have (avoir), according to the type of the verb (intransitive / transitive).

transitive VHeben intransitive VHeben
French English French English
subject   auxiliary  perfect  particple subject  auxiliary  perfect participle subject  auxiliary  perfect  participle subject  auxiliary  perfect  participle
  J' (m) avais acheté I (m) had bought J' (m) étais venu. I (m) had come.
  J' (f) avais acheté I (f) had bought. J' (f) étais venue. I (f) had come.
  Tu (m) avais acheté You (m) had bought. Tu (m) étais venu. You (m) had come.
  Tu (f) avais acheté You (f) had bought. Tu (f) étais venue. You (f) had come.
  Il avait acheté He had bought. Il était venu. He had come.
  Elle avait acheté She had bought. Elle était venue. She had come.
  Nous (m) avions

 acheté

 We
(m)		 had

bought.

 Nous (m) étions

 venus.

 We (m) had

come.
  Nous
(f) 		avions

acheté

 We
(f) 		had

 bought.

 Nous (f) étions

 venues.

 We
(f) 		had

 come.
  Vous (m) aviez

 acheté.

 You (m) had

 bought.

 Vous (m) étiez

venus.

 You (m) had

 come.
  Vous
(f) 		aviez

 acheté.

 You
(f) 		had

 bought.

 Vous (f) étiez

 venues.

 You
(f) 		had

 come.
  Ils avaient acheté They had bought. Ils étaient venus. She had come.
  Elles avaient acheté They had bought. Elles étaient venues. She had come.

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