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B1Grammar cheat sheet
Passé composé of reflexive verbs
High-priority B1 grammar concept for TEF/TCF preparation: Passé composé of reflexive verbs.
Quick rule
Use passé composé for completed past actions and sequences of events.
Patterns to memorize
- avoir/être in present + past participle
- most verbs use avoir; movement and reflexive verbs often use être
- with être, agree the past participle with the subject
Where to use it
- Telling what happened
- Writing a message about a completed event
- Answering past-experience questions
High-value examples
J'ai envoyé le document hier soir.
I sent the document last night.
Completed action with avoir.
Elle est arrivée en retard.
She arrived late.
Movement verb with être and agreement.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the auxiliary
- Using être with every verb
- Forgetting agreement with être verbs
Mini drill
- Write 5 completed actions from yesterday.
- Include 2 movement verbs with être.
- Change one sentence from masculine to feminine.
Exam target
Use Passé composé of reflexive verbs in level-appropriate sentences.Recognize common errors and produce a corrected version.Apply the form in short exam-style writing.