What about "on"?

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

What about "on"?

It’d be nice to have an example of what to do with the past participle of être verbs when using "on" when it means "we".  I can’t find this covered in either of the modules On : we.

Asked 1 year ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

 

The quick answer is that on meaning "we" asks for the plural of the participle, while the impersonal on uses the singular of the participle.

On est allés à un café. -- We went for a coffee.
On est allé à la lune. -- We (=mankind) went to the moon.

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Anne,

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/subject-pronoun-on/

It is an interesting point that you raise. I recommend that you access the link above where Laura Lawless addresses this issue.

I think that you will find it interesting and hopefully it will provide a satisfactory answer to your point.

Bonne journée

Jim

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks for your replies. I just found this discussion of a Listening exercise which implies that Larousse is more in favour of past participle agreement with être when "on" = "nous" than Le bon usage/ Lawless. I do realise it was a rather niche question, given this is mainly an oral usage!

 https://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/follow-on-qu-on-etait-eberlues

PHILIPPE O.A0Kwiziq community member

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/

What about "on"?

It’d be nice to have an example of what to do with the past participle of être verbs when using "on" when it means "we".  I can’t find this covered in either of the modules On : we.

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Let me take a look at that...