Être (to be) · Passé Composé
By TutorLily Editorial Team · Last updated
Être in the French passé composé is: j'ai été, tu as été, il/elle/on a été, nous avons été, vous avez été, ils/elles ont été. The passé composé of être uses AVOIR as the auxiliary (counterintuitive!) plus the past participle 'été'. 'J'ai été à Paris' = 'I went to Paris' or 'I have been to Paris'. The participle 'été' is invariable here (no agreement with subject, since avoir is the auxiliary).
| To Be | Être |
|---|---|
| I was | j'ai été |
| you were | tu as été |
| he/she was | il/elle/on a été |
| we were | nous avons été |
| you were | vous avez été |
| they were | ils/elles ont été |
Être (to be) in context
Sentences that use être in the passé composé. Tap each to hear it.
I went to Paris last year.
You have been very patient with me.
She has been my best friend for years.
We were surprised by the news.
You were wonderful tonight.
They were very welcoming.
Working with the passé composé
The passé composé is French's dominant past tense — used in almost every spoken past reference ("j'ai mangé" = "I ate" or "I have eaten"). It's a COMPOUND tense formed with an auxiliary (avoir for most verbs, être for ~17 motion/state verbs and all reflexives) plus a past participle. Two things to memorise: which verbs take être (aller, venir, partir, sortir, arriver, monter, descendre, naître, mourir, rester, tomber, devenir, retourner, entrer, rentrer, passer, revenir — the so-called "house of être"), and agreement rules (être verbs agree with the subject; avoir verbs only agree with a preceding direct object).
Frequently asked questions
How do you form the passé composé of être?
Why does être use 'avoir' as its own auxiliary?
How do I translate 'I have been' vs 'I was' in French?
Practice Être (To Be) in real conversations
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