1. The Type of Verb:
* Regular verbs: The past participle ends in -é, -i, or -u.
* Irregular verbs: These verbs have their own unique past participle forms. You need to memorize these or consult a verb conjugation table.
* Reflexive verbs: These verbs use the past participle -é for all forms except the third person singular and plural, where it is -ée for feminine and -és for masculine.
2. The Pronoun Subject:
* Direct object pronouns: If the direct object pronoun precedes the verb, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the direct object.
* Example: Je l'ai vu. (I saw him). Here, "vu" agrees with "l'" (him).
* Indirect object pronouns: If the indirect object pronoun precedes the verb, the past participle remains invariable.
* Example: Je lui ai parlé. (I spoke to her). Here, "parlé" remains invariable because "lui" (to her) is an indirect object.
3. The Verb "Être" (to be):
* If the verb "être" is used in the passé composé, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject.
* Example: Elle est arrivée. (She arrived). "arrivée" agrees with "elle" (she).
Here's a summary table:
| Verb Type | Pronoun | Past Participle Agreement | Example |
|---------------------|----------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Regular/Irregular | - | Invariable | J'ai mangé (I ate). |
| Reflexive | - | Agrees with subject | Je me suis lavé (I washed myself). |
| Any type | Direct | Agrees with object | J'ai vu la fille (I saw the girl). |
| Any type | Indirect | Invariable | J'ai donné le livre à mon ami (I gave the book to my friend). |
| "Être" | - | Agrees with subject | Ils sont partis (They left). |
Remember:
* Practice makes perfect! The more you use the passé composé, the more comfortable you'll become with its rules.
* Refer to a good French grammar book or online resource for further clarification and examples.
* Don't be afraid to ask a French speaker or teacher for help.
Good luck!