Expressing cause with "Pour (+être) allé" = For going/having gone in French
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To express for doing [something] in French, you use pour + Infinitif passé.
Using "pour être allé" in French
Look at these examples:
J'ai été félicitée pour être venue à l'aide de Paul.I was congratulated for coming to help Paul.
Ils ont été arrêtés pour être entrés par effraction.They were arrested for breaking and entering.
Vous avez été promu pour être allé à ce séminaire.You were promoted for having gone to that seminar.
Gaston a reçu une médaille pour être arrivé troisième.Gaston got a medal for coming third.
In English, the causal for - giving a reason or a cause - can be followed with either going or having gone, the latter being considered more literary, but they're both correct forms.
However, in French, the causal pour - giving a reason or cause - can only be used with the Infinitif passé, because French considers the fact that it always refers to an action that's in the past.
Note that pour + [Infinitif] (i.e. pour venir ici) has a completely different meaning in French = in order to do, expressing a purpose.
However, in French, the causal pour - giving a reason or cause - can only be used with the Infinitif passé, because French considers the fact that it always refers to an action that's in the past.
Note that pour + [Infinitif] (i.e. pour venir ici) has a completely different meaning in French = in order to do, expressing a purpose.
Therefore, to express the causal for doing / for having done& in French, you use the same following structure:
ATTENTION:
Use the same auxiliary as in compound tenses like Le Passé Composé.
To say for going / for having gone, you will say pour être allé, and NEVER pour avoir allé !
To say for going / for having gone, you will say pour être allé, and NEVER pour avoir allé !
Remember that with the auxiliary être, you need to agree the past participle with the person doing the action.
Elle a été punie pour être arrivée en retard.She was punished for arriving late.
Case of reflexive verbs
Nous sommes punis pour nous être salis.We are grounded for getting dirty.
Elle s'est fait gronder pour s'être maquillée.She was told off for putting make-up on.
On m'a grondé pour m'être assis à côté d'elle.I was told off for sitting next to her.
Note that the reflexive pronoun (m' / t' / s' / nous / vous / s') agrees with the subject of the sentence, and is placed before the auxiliary être.
See also cases with auxiliary avoir: Expressing cause with "Pour (+avoir) fait" = For doing/having done in French
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