Mais, au final, on n'a pas du tout été déçus

John B.C1Kwiziq community member

Mais, au final, on n'a pas du tout été déçus

Why is there an "s" at the end of déçus when the subject is singular?

Asked 3 weeks ago
Maarten K.C1Kwiziq Q&A super contributorCorrect answer

John, 

I have copied this from a previous response to Le P. regarding the same issue but under a different topic heading, about 2 years ago to help you locate it in the Q and A ( link  Jusqu'à ce que + Le Subjonctif = Until [someone] does [something] in French ) : 

“ … when 'on' is used in place of 'nous',  the verb conjugation remains in 3rd party singular ('on est...', 'on a ...', etc) but the agreement rules for adjectives, and for the past participle in compound tenses can be applied. 

That is, there can be agreement of the past participle/adjectives with the plural, and gender if applicable, of 'nous'.  

However, when 'on' does not replace 'nous', past participle and adjectives remain invariable, without 'agreement'. 

Note that the 'need' for agreement is not universally agreed by French grammarians, or universally known even amongst native French speakers - see link to Laura Lawless site. 

Kwiziq however routinely uses agreement when 'on' replaces 'nous'.

 On can mean either we/one/people (French Subject Pronouns)

 https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/subject-pronoun-on/

 Nous vs on to say "we" in French (French Subject Pronouns) “

 

 

John B. asked:

Mais, au final, on n'a pas du tout été déçus

Why is there an "s" at the end of déçus when the subject is singular?

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