When the regular pattern fails
The regular past participle ends in -é, -i or -u. Many of the most common verbs do not follow that pattern, and their participles have to be learned as fixed forms: a regular faisé or prendu does not exist. They are easiest to remember sorted by ending.
Ending -u
| Infinitive | Meaning | Participle |
|---|---|---|
| voir | to see | vu |
| pouvoir | to be able to | pu |
| vouloir | to want | voulu |
| devoir | to have to | dû |
| savoir | to know | su |
| lire | to read | lu |
| boire | to drink | bu |
| connaître | to know (a person or place) | connu |
| avoir | to have | eu |
eu (from avoir) is pronounced like the u in tu: [y]. And dû only carries its accent to tell it apart from the word du (of the).
Nous avons vu un bon film.
We saw a good movie.
Je n'ai pas pu venir.
I couldn't come.
J'ai eu de la chance.
I was lucky.
Ending -is (verbs with a prefix keep the participle of their base verb)
| Infinitive | Meaning | Participle |
|---|---|---|
| prendre | to take | pris |
| apprendre | to learn | appris |
| comprendre | to understand | compris |
| mettre | to put | mis |
| permettre | to allow | permis |
| promettre | to promise | promis |
Tu as pris le bus ?
Did you take the bus?
Je n'ai pas compris la question.
I didn't understand the question.
J'ai appris le français à l'école.
I learned French at school.
Ending -it
| Infinitive | Meaning | Participle |
|---|---|---|
| faire | to do, to make | fait |
| dire | to say | dit |
| écrire | to write | écrit |
| conduire | to drive | conduit |
J'ai fait mes devoirs.
I did my homework.
Elle a dit la vérité.
She told the truth.
Il a écrit une lettre.
He wrote a letter.
Ending -ert (-ir verbs that do not end in -i)
| Infinitive | Meaning | Participle |
|---|---|---|
| ouvrir | to open | ouvert |
| offrir | to give (as a gift), to offer | offert |
| découvrir | to discover | découvert |
Ils ont ouvert un nouveau magasin.
They opened a new shop.
Elle m'a offert des fleurs.
She gave me flowers.
No pattern
| Infinitive | Meaning | Participle |
|---|---|---|
| être | to be | été |
| naître | to be born | né |
| mourir | to die | mort |
Elle a été très gentille.
She was very kind.
Il est né à Lyon.
He was born in Lyon.
Mon grand-père est mort en 2020.
My grandfather died in 2020.
