If you’re learning French, understanding how to conjugate the verb “aller” (to go) in the past tense is essential. In this guide, we will explore both the formal and informal ways to express this verb in the past tense, providing you with tips and examples along the way. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
1. Formal Ways to Say “Aller” in Past Tense
When speaking formally or in a more professional context, French speakers typically use the auxiliary verb “être” (to be) to form the past tense of “aller.” Here’s how you do it:
Conjugation with “Être”:
Je suis allé(e) — I went
Vous êtes allé(e)(s) — You went (formal/plural)
Il/Elle/On est allé(e) — He/She/One went
Nous sommes allé(e)s — We went
Ils/Elles sont allé(e)s — They went
2. Informal Ways to Say “Aller” in Past Tense
Informal speech in French often uses the auxiliary verb “avoir” (to have) instead of “être” when conjugating “aller” in the past tense. Let’s see how it is done:
Conjugation with “Avoir”:
J’ai allé(e) — I went
Tu as allé(e) — You went (informal)
Il/Elle/On a allé(e) — He/She/One went
Nous avons allé(e)s — We went
Vous avez allé(e)(s) — You went (formal/plural)
Ils/Elles ont allé(e)s — They went
3. Tips and Examples
Now that you have a better understanding of how to conjugate “aller” in the past tense, let’s explore some tips and examples to solidify your knowledge:
Tips:
- Remember the gender and number agreement: When using “être” as the auxiliary verb, you need to match the past participle (“allé”) with the subject’s gender and number.
- Pay attention to reflexive pronouns: If you’re using “je” (I) with a reflexive pronoun, such as “je me suis allé(e)” (I went), the past participle agrees with the subject, just like with “être.”
- Be careful with irregular verbs: Some verbs conjugated with “être” have irregular past participles. For example, “aller” becomes “allé” in the past tense, and “venir” (to come) becomes “venu.”
Examples:
- Formal: Hier, je suis allé(e) à la plage avec mes amis. (Yesterday, I went to the beach with my friends.)
- Informal: Hier, j’ai allé(e) faire du shopping. (Yesterday, I went shopping.)
- Formal/Plural: Nous sommes allé(e)s à Paris le mois dernier. (We went to Paris last month.)
- Reflexive Pronoun with “Être”: Je me suis allé(e) promener dans le parc. (I went for a walk in the park.)
- Irregular Example: Il est venu me rendre visite hier soir. (He came to visit me last night.)
With these tips and examples, you’re well on your way to effectively using “aller” in the past tense in both formal and informal situations. Practice, observe, and soon it will become second nature!
