When do I use être and when do I use avoid as the auxiliary in the perfect tense?
- The auxiliary verb is equivalent to the english "have" in tenses such as "I have eaten", for example. "J'ai mangé. This verb agrees with the subject. 2) The normal auxiliary for verbs in compound tenses is avoir. So make this your default if you are not sure! 3) But some verbs use "être" to be as the auxiliary, even though it still has the same meaning as the english: "I have...." 4) These verbs are the MRS VANDETRAMPS verbs! Venir/aller, naître/mourir, monter/descendre, sortir/entrer/rentrer, partir/arriver, retourner, rester/tomber 5)I've put them in pairs because these are of then the opposite of each other 6) They are the verbs of motion or when something changes shape. 7) Any verb that is a version of these basic verbs will also take être. (ressortir) 8) Addionally, any reflexive verb (thats on with se/me/te/vous/nous before it) also takes être as the auxiliary. (Il s'est douché) 9) Compound verbs that use être cause the part participle (the "entrée in "elle est entrée" to agree.
