vous êtes assis??

John I.B2Kwiziq community member

vous êtes assis??

Hi - the example "Le canapé dans lequel / où vous êtes assis m'a coûté une fortune", the translation has me a bit confused (where you're sitting = vous êtes assis). My mind wants to make "where you're sitting" the present tense - ie: vous (vous) asseyez. However if the passé composé is correct, my brain wants to either write vous vous êtes assis, or vous avez assis?? Thanks in advance..
Asked 8 years ago
AurélieNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer
Bonjour John,

Your brain is in the right place, but here the trick is the nuance between "to sit (to be sat)" and "to be (in the process of) sitting", which is more strongly marked in French.
If you want to say you're sitting DOWN, you will use the verb "s'asseoir" in Le Présent: "où vous vous asseyez".
However, when you want to say you're sat (or sitting, hence confusion), then you will use Le Présent of "être assis(e)" (to be sat): "vous êtes assis".

I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
helen w.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
So the difference is... you're already been seated -- so you're "sitting": etre assis. If you're in the process of sitting, you'd use the reflexive verbs: s'asseoir/s'assoir ?
John I. asked:

vous êtes assis??

Hi - the example "Le canapé dans lequel / où vous êtes assis m'a coûté une fortune", the translation has me a bit confused (where you're sitting = vous êtes assis). My mind wants to make "where you're sitting" the present tense - ie: vous (vous) asseyez. However if the passé composé is correct, my brain wants to either write vous vous êtes assis, or vous avez assis?? Thanks in advance..

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