Past Participle Agreement in French
Three fundamental rules to master agreement — with examples and exceptions.
Past participle agreement is one of the most feared difficulties in written French. Yet it follows clear, logical rules once you understand the whole system.
Rule 1 — With auxiliary avoir
The past participle used with avoir does not agree with the subject. It agrees with the direct object (COD), but only if it comes before the verb.
Direct object after the verb → no agreement
J'ai mangé des pommes. → mangé (invariable)
Direct object before the verb → agreement required
Les pommes que j'ai mangées. → mangées agrees with que = les pommes (f. pl.)
Les lettres qu'il a écrites sont magnifiques.
→ que = les lettres (f. pl.) before the verb: agreement.
Il a écrit des lettres magnifiques.
→ Direct object after the verb: no agreement.
Rule 2 — With auxiliary être
The past participle used with être always agrees with the subject in gender and number.
| Subject | Participle form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masc. singular | -é | Il est parti. |
| Fem. singular | -ée | Elle est partie. |
| Masc. plural | -és | Ils sont partis. |
| Fem. plural | -ées | Elles sont parties. |
Marie et Sophie sont arrivées en retard.
→ Feminine plural subject: agreement in -ées.
Rule 3 — Reflexive/pronominal verbs
Pronominal verbs use être, but agreement follows rules closer to those of avoir:
- If the reflexive pronoun is the direct object: agree with it (= the subject).
- If the reflexive pronoun is the indirect object: no agreement with the pronoun.
Elle s'est lavée.
→ se = direct object (she washes herself): agreement with feminine subject.
Elle s'est lavé les mains.
→ se = indirect object; direct object les mains comes after: no agreement.
Ils se sont téléphoné.
→ se téléphoner: se is always indirect — never agree.
Important Exceptions
Faire + infinitive → always invariable
Les enfants que j'ai fait jouer. (never faits)
Laisser + infinitive
Since the 1990 reform, laisser followed by an infinitive is also invariable.
Je les ai laissé partir. (always invariable)
Summary Table
| Situation | Agreement? |
|---|---|
| Auxiliary avoir, direct object after verb | No |
| Auxiliary avoir, direct object before verb | Yes, with direct object |
| Auxiliary être | Yes, with subject |
| Pronominal verb, pronoun = direct object | Yes, with subject |
| Pronominal verb, pronoun = indirect object | No |
| Faire + infinitive | No (invariable) |
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