"Composed pasts" are made of two parts:
1) an auxiliary verb, conjugated according to the subject (the latter can be conjugated in the composed past, the verb will then be made of 3 words)
2) a participle, invariable in English
(I am only describing auxiliaries in the past, not the English "be + -ing" that doesn't exists in French)
- I have fooled my sister - I have been fooling my sister (Active voice)
- I am fooled by my sister - I am being fooled (Passive voice)
In Frech, things are a little more complicated... Using the auxiliary "to be" will lead to the passive form, but some verbs are employed with "to be" in the active form as well!
- J'ai mangé du fromage ensuite je suis parti. The first verb needs avoir, the second être.
- Le chat a mangé la souris, la souris est mangée par le chat. Manger is used with the auxiliary avoir, using manger with être means you're in the passive voice!
- Je me suis réveillé puis j'ai réveillé mon frère. Pronominal verbs always go with être, but the normal version with avoir.
There is a set of rules, or you can study them... The rules are well-explained here.
I think if you remember that the verbs that don't exists in the passive voice are conjugated with être (including pronominal verbs "se ..."), you're unlikely to make mistakes.
I made up this rule, and I am not an expert in grammar, so let me know if you find exceptions!
A few more examples:
- become, devenir, doesn't exist in the passive voice -> être. Je suis devenu grand
- se rappeler is a pronominal verb -> être. Il s'est rappelé de mon nom.
- Venir: no passive form (you can't say "I am came") so être: tu es venu
- Voir: the passive form exists, (you have seen (active) and you are seen (passive)) -> avoir. J'ai vu.
Yes, it is complicated, but you'll be understood* even if you use the wrong auxiliary! Keep learning :)
*exists in the passive voice -> comprendre goes with avoir! Tu as compris?
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