Here's a breakdown:
Verbs that conjugate with "être" (to be):
* Movement verbs:
* Aller (to go)
* Arriver (to arrive)
* Entrer (to enter)
* Sortir (to exit)
* Monter (to go up)
* Descendre (to go down)
* Venir (to come)
* Retourner (to return)
* Partir (to leave)
* Tomber (to fall)
* Revenir (to come back)
* Rester (to stay)
* State change verbs:
* Devenir (to become)
* Naître (to be born)
* Mourir (to die)
* Note: "Être né(e)" (to be born) and "Être mort(e)" (to be dead) are also used as past participles.
* Reflexive verbs:
* All verbs that are reflexive use "être" in their compound tenses. For example, "Se laver" (to wash oneself), "S'habiller" (to get dressed).
Verbs that conjugate with "avoir" (to have):
* Almost all other verbs:
* Manger (to eat)
* Dormir (to sleep)
* Parler (to speak)
* Écrire (to write)
* Lire (to read)
* etc.
How to know which auxiliary to use:
* Memorization: The best way to learn this is by memorizing the verbs that use "être". There are only a few, and they are commonly used.
* Context clues: Look for verbs that indicate movement, state change, or are reflexive. These often use "être".
Example:
* "Je suis allé au cinéma." (I went to the cinema.) - "Aller" uses "être."
* "J'ai mangé une pizza." (I ate a pizza.) - "Manger" uses "avoir."
Let me know if you have any other questions!