Être Verbs Used Transitively

Verbs that require être in the passé composé and other compound tenses are intransitive - that is, they have no direct object. But some of them can be used transitively (with a direct object), and when this happens, these verbs need avoir as the helping verb. In addition, there is a slight change in meaning.

descendre
   Il est descendu. - He went down(stairs).
   Il a descendu l'escalier. - He went down the stairs.
   Il a descendu la valise. - He took the suitcase down.

monter
   Il est monté. - He went up(stairs).
   Il a monté la côte. - He went up the hill.
   Il a monté les livres. - He took the books up.

passer
   Je suis passé devant le parc. - I went by the park.
   J'ai passé la porte. - I went through the door.
   J'ai passé une heure ici. - I spent an hour here.

rentrer
   Je suis rentré. - I came home.
   J'ai rentré les chaises. - I brought the chairs inside.

retourner
   Elle est retournée en France. - She has returned to France.
   Elle a retourné la lettre. - She returned / sent back the letter.

sortir
   Elle est sortie. - She went out.
   Elle a sorti la voiture - She took the car out.


Keep reading
   Introduction to être verbs
   Remembering être verbs
   Être verbs used transitively
   Test on être verbs


Related lessons
   Repeating auxiliary verbs
   Le passé
   Compound tenses

Previous

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Next