Décéder & Devenir

Question

I was caught out as I hadn't learnt that Décéder & Devenir are etre verbs in passe compose: they are not in the "traditional" group (and not in the house photo on Wikipedia). Are there any other rogue verbs that use etre?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Chris !
All the (+être) verbs are covered in our system in two lessons: this one (for 'rogue' verbs) and the "coming and going verbs" lesson (see https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-coming-and-going-verbs-etre-in-le-passe-compose-conversational-past).
Also remember that all reflexive verbs also take être in Le Passé Composé: https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-reflexive-verbs-in-the-passe-compose-conversational-past
À bientôt !

Answer

Yes, I noticed that too. In other French courses (& those 'mountain verb' diagrams) nobody tells you about décéder & devenir! What else might the cunning French be keeping from us?

Answer

"Décéder" caught me by surprise too. It's logical, though, when you consider that "mourir," an être verb, and "décéder" both mean "to die."

"Devenir" is just as easy to remember. "Venir" is a classic "movement" verb that takes être as the ancillary verb in the passé composé. But you already knew that. "Devenir" is simply a derivative of venir and is conjugated in the same way.