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Gender agreement with verb.

Alan M.C1Kwiziq community member

Gender agreement with verb.

- et ma sœur qui était censée m'aider m'a appelée tout à l'heure pour me dire qu'elle ne serait pas là avant demain matin ! - I may be missing something but why is there a gender agreement with ´appelé ´ when its not reflexive and the auxiliary is avoir? Thanks.
This question relates to:French dictation exercise "At the butcher's"

Dictation exercise B2

Asked 2 years ago
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Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

It is appelée because the COD of the sentence (me ) precedes the participle. If the speaker is female then the participle needs to reflect that.

(My sister speaking:) Il m'a appelée. -- He called me. The COD of the sentence is Helen, referring to herself through me. Since the COD comes before the participle, the participle changes to appelée.

Like12 years ago
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CélineNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Bonjour Alan,

Chris is correct: Here it is Mrs Pervenche who is speaking.

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

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

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Alan M. asked:

Gender agreement with verb.

- et ma sœur qui était censée m'aider m'a appelée tout à l'heure pour me dire qu'elle ne serait pas là avant demain matin ! - I may be missing something but why is there a gender agreement with ´appelé ´ when its not reflexive and the auxiliary is avoir? Thanks.

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