Question about the past participle agreeing when used with 'avoir' in the writing exercise 'A Bad Matchmaker'

Scout E.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Question about the past participle agreeing when used with 'avoir' in the writing exercise 'A Bad Matchmaker'

Bonjour à tous!

The phrase is: "Après qu'ils sont arrivés et que nous les avons présentés, nous les avons laissé faire connaissance."

I have reviewed the lesson 'Special cases when the past participle agrees...' as well as, student comments going back three years, and l am stumped as to why the past participle of, "...nous les avons laissé faire connaissance" does not agree with the direct object pronoun 'les' (Stéphane and Aline). I understand that "présentés" agrees through the subordinate clause with 'que'. Why would 'laissé' not do the same with it's own direct object pronoun? ... assuming l have it right that both 'les' are direct object pronouns ... Merci! 

Asked 1 year ago
Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

I think I answered that in the comments to the lesson you mention, but in case you missed it, here is a direct link:

https://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/il-nous-a-laisse-partir

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Scout, I am fairly certain that despite there being a preceding direct object pronoun here (les), this is an unusual exception that applies to a limited number of verbs in that there is an infinitive verb following laisser, and that infinitive ‘holds’ the place of a direct object.

In this case the verbal expression ‘ faire connaissance ‘ is a direct object that follows the verb, and no agreement occurs. 

 https://www.carleton.edu/french/resources/language-tools/grammar/agreement_pastparticiple/ 

PS For some reason Alan’s answer only appeared to me after submitting my response. I can now change my response to ‘ I am certain. . .’.

Scout E.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Merci Alan et Maarten! 😀 Alan, your previous entry had not emerged for me either. Thank you for giving me the link.

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I wonder how many French natives would get this one correct and know the reason why. ;)

Scout E. asked:

Question about the past participle agreeing when used with 'avoir' in the writing exercise 'A Bad Matchmaker'

Bonjour à tous!

The phrase is: "Après qu'ils sont arrivés et que nous les avons présentés, nous les avons laissé faire connaissance."

I have reviewed the lesson 'Special cases when the past participle agrees...' as well as, student comments going back three years, and l am stumped as to why the past participle of, "...nous les avons laissé faire connaissance" does not agree with the direct object pronoun 'les' (Stéphane and Aline). I understand that "présentés" agrees through the subordinate clause with 'que'. Why would 'laissé' not do the same with it's own direct object pronoun? ... assuming l have it right that both 'les' are direct object pronouns ... Merci! 

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