Does the past participle agree in number and gender with the second verb in a sentence?

Question

Hi, this question is in reference to your lesson on when verbs with the auxiliary of avoir have to agree :

Special cases when the past participle agrees (in number & gender) when used with 'avoir' in the compound past in French (Le Passé Composé)

I'm wondering about the second verb in this sentence: "Ils ont essayé d'échapper aux Nazis et entassé/entassés dans la rue." Even though the COD is in front of the 2nd verb (entasser), it is the COD for the first verb, essayer. Thus, the second verb, entasser would not be plural?

Accepted Answer

Hi Helen, 
This sentence is incomplete, as it stands it means ' and piled up in the street ' and would agree with 'ils' but what comes after 'dans la rue'?

Answer

I don't see a COD in this sentence. "Aux Nazis" is an indirect object, not a direct one, as indicated "aux".

Answer

..so it should be entassé (not entassés)?  If there was a COD for the first verb that came in the sentence before the 2nd verb, I'm assuming the second verb would not need to be in agreement?   Just want to learn the rule here. Thank you!

Answer

Ils ont entassé dans la rue = They crammed into the street. Right?

Answer

Hi Helen, 
You would have to use the reflexive verb 
's'entasser' 
to express the idea or piling up somewhere.
Ils se sont entassés dans la rue