FRENCH AUXILIARY VERBS AND THEIR ROLE IN FORMING TENSES

International independent scientific journal №80/2025 27 FRENCH AUXILIARY VERBS AND THEIR ROLE IN FORMING TENSES Selimli T. Senior Teacher Azerbaijan University of Languages Department of Foreign Languages Within Faculty of Education Baku, Azerbaijan https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17878290 Abstract This article examines the role of auxiliary verbs in forming French verb tenses. French verbs have different forms depending on person, number, and tense. While simple tenses are formed by modifying the main verb, compound tenses require auxiliary verbs such as avoir and être. The paper provides detailed explanations of twelve compound and immediate tenses, including passé composé, plus-que-parfait, passé antérieur, futur antérieur, conditionnel passé, subjonctif passé, subjonctif plus-que-parfait, futur immédiat, and passé récent. Examples, tables, and participle agreements are provided for clarity. This study also discusses nuances in auxiliary verb usage, participle agreements with gender and number, and exceptions for pronominal verbs. The research aims to give learners a comprehensive understanding of complex tense formation in French. Keywords: French verbs, auxiliary verbs, compound tenses, subjunctive, French grammar, verb conjugation. Introduction This article aims to provide a detailed overview of French auxiliary verbs and their function in tense formation, with examples and tables illustrating participle agreement, gender, and number rules. Verbs are fundamental components of language as they express actions, states, and events. Auxiliary verbs, particularly avoir and être, play a crucial role in forming compound tenses. Understanding how to correctly apply auxiliary verbs and participles is essential for mastering French grammar. Moreover, certain tenses, such as futur immédiat and passé récent, use auxiliary verbs differently than standard compound tenses [1, p.45]. In French, auxiliary verbs such as avoir and être are crucial for forming compound tenses, which convey actions completed in the past, actions that will be completed in the future, and actions that are dependent on certain conditions. These verbs combine with the past participle of the main verb to form different tenses, making them an essential aspect of French verb conjugation. The role of auxiliary verbs extends beyond simply assisting in tense formation—they also influence the structure of sentences and ensure subject-verb agreement, particularly when used with verbs of movement or reflexive verbs [4, p.54]. The primary focus of this study is to provide a thorough understanding of how auxiliary verbs contribute to the formation of compound tenses. The French language relies heavily on auxiliary verbs, not only for the creation of tenses such as passé composé, plus-queparfait, and futur antérieur, but also in more immediate forms like futur immédiat and passé récent. The nuances involved in selecting the correct auxiliary verb— whether avoir or être—depend on various factors such as verb type, transitivity, and context, all of which will be explored in detail in this article. Additionally, the concept of participle agreement with gender and number will be examined, as it adds another layer of complexity to French grammar [2, p.12]. Materials and methods The verb has different forms and tenses. What does the verb do?, What will it do?, What did he do? he answers one of his questions. Classification of French Verbs: The verb has several features that distinguish it from other parts of speech: 1. This part of speech varies by person and quantity: Je parle mal français. Tu parles vite. İl parle à sa femme. Nous parlons de nos élèves. Vous parlez trop bas. Elles parlent souvent de ses amis. 2. Verbs have forms of affirmation and negation: Tu veux lire ce livre. Tu ne veux pas lire ce livre. Michel va à l’école. Michel ne va pas à l’école. 3. Verbs denote time: Nous avons entendu une mélodie. Ils iront à Paris cet été. Je fais mes études à l’Université. Mes sœurs vont écrire une dictée. Son ami vient de fermer les fenêtres. 4. Verbs can be effective and ineffective: Sa mère réveille son fils à six heures. Son fils se réveille à six heures. 5. Verbs are simple in structure, can be corrective: copier – copy out (simple), recopier –copy again (derivative), lire – read (simple), relire – reread (derivative) 6. As a member of the sentence, the verb has a news function and is divided into two types: a) verbal predicate (prédicat verbal): Les enfants dessinent. Nous allons à la ville. b) verbal noun : Il est marié. – He is married. C’est toi. – It’s you. Vous êtes dix. – You are ten. 7. Verbs can be conjugate and non-conjugate. a) verbs can vary according to person, quantity and time, and these variable forms are called conjugate forms (les formes personnelles des verbes). For example: Ses filles viennent de la bibliothèque. Je demande quelque chose. b) the non-conjugate forms of the verb (les formes nonpersonnelles des verbes) are: 1) infinitive- (infinitif) 2) participle - (participe passé, participe présent) International independent scientific journal №80/2025 28 3) gerund- (gérondif) In French, verbs are not only indicators of action but also carry tense, aspect, and agreement with the subject. The infinitive is the non-conjugate form of the verb. They are divided into three main groups: regular -er, regular -ir, and irregular verbs, each with its own rules for conjugation [4, p.15]. Classification of French verbs: Group Ending Example Meaning I -er donner to give raconter to speak écouter to listen II -ir finir to finish choisir to choose bâtir to build III -oir, -re, -endre, -ondre prendre to take lire to read voir to see In French, endings are used when correcting tense forms. For example: Tu parleras – You’ll talk (Futur simple) Il parla – He talked (Passe Simple) Je parle _ I talk (Présent) Ils parlaient _ They were talking (imparfait) etc. However, there are tenses in which auxiliary verbs are used to form the tenses. In French, there are many complex tense forms that are formed using auxiliary verbs. [1, p.47]. These include: 1. Passé composé 2. Plus-que-parfait 3. Passé antérieur 4. Futur antérieur 5. Conditionnel passé 6. Subjonctif passé 7. Subjonctif plus-que-parfait 8. Futur immédiat (Futur proche) 9. Passé immédiat (Passé récent) Although six of these tenses coincide through the Participe Passé, the last two tenses, i.e., the Futur Immédiat and the Passé Immédiat, coincide through the Infinif rather than through the Participe Passé. I would like to take a closer look at the arrangement of complex times and explain what features each of these times has. 1. “Passé Composé”. The "Passé Composé" tense is translated as "compound past tense" into English as and is processed by the following temporal adverbs: hier – yesterday avant-hier – the day before yesterday le mois passé – last month il y a deux mois – for two months l’année passée – last year and so on To use these tense forms, it is necessary to conjugate the verb" avoir "and" être "in" Présent De L'indicatif "(Present Tense) and add the form of the main verb" Participe Passé". To make the “Participe Passé” form of Group I verbs, it is necessary to discard the infinitive ending “er” of the main verb and add “é” instead. For example: J’ai demandé. Tu as demandé Il (elle) a demandé Nous avons demandé Vous avez demandé Ils (elles) ont demandé To fix the “participe passé” form of Group II verbs, the infinitive ending “ir” is discarded, replaced by “i”. finir – fini – finish choisir – choisi – choose batir – bati – build J’ai choisi Nous avons choisi Tu as choisi Vous avez choisi Il (elle) a choisi Ils (elles) ont choisi The form “participe passé” of Group III verbs is arranged in different ways. aller – allé devenir – devenu élire – élu perdre – perdu rendre – rendu avoir – eu mettre – mis dire – dit craindre – craint couvrir – couvert suivre – suivi voir – vu pouvoir – pu envoyer – envoyé revenir – revenu répondre – répondu devoir – dû servir – servi vouloir – voulu savoir – su lire – lu sortir – sorti recevoir - reçu pleuvoir – plu offrir – offert conduire – conduit écrire – écrit être – été promettre – promis peindre – peint falloir – fallu ouvrir – ouvert construire – construit traduire – traduit International independent scientific journal №80/2025 29 dormir – dormi découvrir – découvert prendre – pris It is formed with the help of the verb “avoir” during the “Passé Composé” of most of the verbs mentioned. But pronominal verbs and several verbs denoting action are formed with the help of the verb “être”. Verbs formed in the” Passé Composé “tense with the help of the verb” être": Verbs formed in the ” passé compose “ tense with the help of the verb” être": rentrer – rentré - return arriver – arrivè - arrive aller – allé - go devenir – devenu - be venir – venu - come revenir – revenu - to com back sortir – sorti - to go out partir – parti - leave entrer – entré - enter monter – monté - rise descendre _ descendu -fall rester _ resté -stay tomber _tombé -fall naître _ né - be born mourir_ mort - die The form “Participe Passé” of verbs formed with the help of the verb “etre " is consonant with the subject by gender and quantity: Je suis entré (e) Nous sommes entrés (es) Tu es entré (e) Vous êtes entrés (es) Il est entré Ils sont entrés Elle est entrée Elles sont entrées Some verbs arranged with the help of the verb” etre “can be used with the help of the verb” avoir". However, at this time they become an effective verb. For example: Je suis monté au deuxième étage. - I went up to the third floor. J'ai monté ma valise au deuxième étage. - I lifted my bag to the third floor. Elle est sorti de la maison. - He left the House. Elle a sorti son livre de la serviette. - He took out his book from the bag. The” Participe Passé “of verbs aligned with the verb ”avoir " is also in some cases reconciled by gender and quantity. 1)” Participe Passé " is consonant with the object pronoun that precedes the auxiliary verb. For example: Je les ai montrés à ma copine. 2)” Participe Passé “is reconciled according to the gender and quantity of the noun that comes after quel (quelle, quels, quelles) and”combien de". For example: Quelle veste as-tu choisie? Combien de roses avez-vous achetées? 3) the designation expressed by ” Participe Passé “ que (pronom relatif) is consonant by gender and quantity with the word that precedes”que " in the branch sentence. For example: Les jeunes filles que nous avons vues étudient à l'université. 2.” Plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif". This tense is used to indicate an action that preceded another past action that occurred [3, p.30] This tense is translated into English as a story about the form of the verb. To correct the time” PlusQue-Parfait“, we describe the verb” avoir “or” étre “in the time” imparfait de l'indicatif “and add the form of the main verb” Participe Passé “ to it. For example: écrire – write J’avais écrit Tu avais écrit Il (elle) avait écrit Nous avions écrit Vous aviez écrit Ils (elles) avaient écrit I had written You had written He had written We had written You had written. They had written In these cases, we can find the time "Plus-QueParfait". 1. In simple sentences: Tu avais déjà écrit cette lettre. You had already written this letter. 2. Time in sentence branches: In this time, the branch is used in the "Passé Composé" sentence, and the main sentence is used in the "Plus Que Parfait" sentence. For example: Quand Pierre est rentré, sa femme avait déjà préparé le déjeuner. When Pierre returned, his wife had already prepared dinner. 3. Completeness in subordinate clauses: meanwhile, the subordinate clause is in “Plus Que-Parfait,” and the main clause is in “Passé Composé.”. For example: Son père dit que sa fille est déjà partie à Paris. Her father says that his daughter has already left for Paris. 3. "Passé Antérieur" tense. The "Passé Antérieur", "avoir" or "être" are formed from the participe passé of the main verb with the "Passé Simple" form of one of the auxiliary verbs. The "Passé Antérieur" also refers to an action that preceded an action that is in the past tense, such as the "Plus-Que-Parfait" tense. For example: Dès que le dîner fut fini il me prit par le bras. As soon as lunch ran out, he clung to my arm. 4. " Futur Antérieur”. The "Futur Antérieur" tense is formed from the "Participe Passé" form of the main verb and the "futur simple" form of one of the auxiliary verbs "avoir" or "être". In the present tense, it refers to an action that must be completed before another action that will begin in the future. For example: Quand il aura fini son travail il reviendra te voir. When he finishes his job, he will come and see you. trouver – find J’aurai trouvé Nous aurons trouvé Tu auras trouvé Vous aurez trouvé Il (elle) aura trouvé Ils (elles) auront trouvé When we pay attention, we see that “participe passé” does not change when there is “avoir” from auxiliary verbs that play a role in the correction of tenses, but “participe passé” of verbs that are corrected with the help of the verb “être” changes with subject by gender and quantity, that is, they are reconciled. 5. "Conditionnel Passé". International independent scientific journal №80/2025 30 The "Conditionnel Passé" tense means that the action, the performance of which refers to the past tense, depends on the condition. For example: Si j'avais eu le temps, je serais allé au théâtre hier soir. If I had time, I would have gone to the theater yesterday evening. "Conditionnel Passé" is translated into English as the past tense "second conditional". The” Conditionnel Passé “again,” avoir “or” étre “are formed from the” Participe Passé “of the main verb with the” Conditionnel Présent “form of one of the auxiliary verbs. For example: arriver – arrive Je serai arrivé (e) Nous serions arrivés (es) Tu seras arrivé (e) Vous seriez arrivés (es) Il sera arrivé Ils seraient arrivés (es) Elle sera arrivée Elles seraient arrivés (es) 6. " Subjonctif Passé ". The " Subjonctif Passé " in time refers to an action that either belongs to the past tense or must be completed at a certain time. For example: Nous doutions qu’il soit sorti. We suspect that she might have left. Il faut que nous ayons fini ce travail ce soir. We must finish this work tonight. "Subjonctif passé" in most cases is translated as a complex form of the form of desire. Similarly, during " Subjonctif passé ", " être " or " avoir " is formed from the form " Participe Passé " of the main verb with the form of " subjonctif présent " of one of the auxiliary verbs. For example: chercher – search que j’aie cherché que nous ayons cherché que tu aies cherché que vous ayez cherché qu’il (elle) ait cherché qu’ils (elles) aient cherché 7. “Subjonctif Plus-Que-Parfait”. The " Subjonctif plus-que-parfait” tense is formed from the “Participe Passé” form of the main verb with the “Subjonctif Imparfait” form of one of the auxiliary verbs “avoir” and “être”. For example: montrer – show que j’eus montré que nous eussions montré que tu eus montré que vous eussiez montré qu’il (elle) est montré qu’ils (elles) eussent montré The “Subjonctif Plus-Que-Parfait " is translated into English, usually in the form of desire. For example: Nous ne pensions pas qu'il eût fait tant de fautes dans sa copie. We did not think that he would have made so many mistakes in writing. 8. ” Futur Immédiat " (futur proche) The "Futur Immédiat" tense refers to the action that time will carry out in the near future. Since this action is very springy in the present tense, “this hour”, “this moment”, “now”, “this minute”, "soon" are translated into English using these words. The correction of this complex tense form is made from the infinitive form of the main verb with the “Présent De L'indicative tense of the verb” aller“, unlike other tense forms of the French language. For example: dire – say Je vais dire Nous allons dire Tu vas dire Vous allez dire Il (elle) va dire İls (elles) vont dire For example: Je vais vous dire une phrase difficile.- I'll tell you a difficult sentence 9."Passé Immédiat” (Passé Récent) The "Passé Immédiat” (Passé Récent) tense denotes an action that belongs to the recent past. This tense form is also corrected using the preposition “de” and the infinitive of the main verb, the conjugation of the verb “venir” in the present tense, unlike other compound tenses, such as the tense “Futur Immédiat”. For example: choisir-choose Je viens de choisir Nous venons de choisir Tu viens de choisir Vous venez de choisir İl (elle) vient de choisir İls (elles) viennent de choisir For example: Il vient de choisir. - She just chose her own costume. The verbs “avoir”, être”, “aller”, “venir”, which are used as auxiliary verbs in the forms we have listed, have lost their main meaning and serve to correct complex tenses [5, p.20]. Discussion The proper use of auxiliary verbs, avoir and être, is central to mastering French tenses, as their correct application is crucial for forming compound tenses accurately. These auxiliary verbs help determine the structure of the sentence and influence participle agreement in both written and spoken French. Misusing them can lead to incorrect verb forms and misunderstanding of tense meanings, which can hinder communication [1, p.78]. In the case of avoir, which is commonly used with most verbs, the participle remains unchanged except when it is used with a preceding direct object, in which case gender and number agreement occur. For example, in the sentence Je les ai vus ("I saw them"), the past participle vus agrees in gender and number with the direct object les (the pronoun representing a plural noun) [3, p.65]. On the other hand, être is used with a limited set of verbs, typically indicating motion or change of state (e.g., aller, venir, arriver, partir). For verbs using être, the past participle agrees with the subject in both gender and number. For instance, Elle est partie ("She left") vs. Ils sont partis ("They left"). The distinction between avoir and être is essential because it affects not only the verb conjugation but also the meaning and emphasis in a sentence. Additionally, certain verbs can switch between avoir and être depending on the context. For example, monter is generally conjugated with être when referring to motion (e.g., Je suis monté - "I went up") but with avoir when it takes a direct object International independent scientific journal №80/2025 31 (e.g., J'ai monté les escaliers - "I went up the stairs"). This switching emphasizes the importance of context when determining which auxiliary verb to use [2, p.50]. A nuanced aspect of auxiliary verb usage involves pronominal verbs (e.g., se lever, se réveiller), which always use être in their compound tenses. For example, Elle s'est levée ("She got up"). In such cases, agreement rules also apply, with the participle agreeing in gender and number with the subject. The study also emphasizes the importance of understanding immediate tenses, like futur immédiat (futur proche) and passé immédiat (passé récent) [4, p.55]. These tenses are particularly significant in spoken French to express actions that are about to happen or have just occurred. Unlike other compound tenses that rely on avoir or être with a past participle, these immediate tenses use aller in the présent de l'indicatif for futur immédiat (e.g., Je vais manger - "I am going to eat") and venir in the présent de l'indicatif for passé récent (e.g., Je viens de partir - "I just left") [5, p.40]. Understanding the distinctions between these tenses, auxiliary verb uses, and participle agreement is crucial for learners aiming to use French fluently and correctly. The research provided in this article not only highlights these rules but also prepares learners to navigate exceptions and nuances that often arise in spoken and written French. Finally, while auxiliary verb usage might initially seem complicated due to its nuances and exceptions, this study provides a clear framework for understanding and applying these forms. Mastery of auxiliary verbs is not only essential for forming compound tenses but also for achieving greater fluency in understanding and speaking French, especially in situations that require nuanced expressions of time, condition, and action [1, p.78]. This expansion of the Discussion section adds clarity to the importance of auxiliary verbs, emphasizing the nuanced roles of avoir and être and the exceptions learners must be aware of. It provides a more comprehensive understanding of how auxiliary verbs function in French grammar, which is key to achieving fluency [2, p.13]. Conclusion French auxiliary verbs play a central role in forming compound tenses. Mastery of avoir and être, along with participle agreement rules, is essential for fluency. This article provides detailed explanations, examples, and tables to guide learners in understanding and using complex French tenses. Correct application of these rules enhances both written and spoken proficiency [3, p.31]. In conclusion, the mastery of French auxiliary verbs avoir and être is indispensable for understanding and correctly using compound tenses. These auxiliary verbs are the foundation for a wide range of French tenses, from the passé composé to the subjonctif plusque-parfait, each of which plays a crucial role in expressing time, aspect, and conditionality in the language [1, p.46]. The ability to navigate between these tenses allows for more nuanced and accurate communication, especially when dealing with past actions, future predictions, and hypothetical scenarios. This study has demonstrated the importance of auxiliary verbs in forming these complex tenses. Through detailed examples, tables, and explanations, it has provided learners with the necessary tools to grasp the rules of participle agreement, including the agreement by gender and number, and highlighted the exceptions found in pronominal verb [4, p.54]. A deeper understanding of how auxiliary verbs function in French can lead to better spoken and written fluency, enhancing the learner's ability to communicate with precision. Moreover, the research has illustrated how certain tenses, such as the futur immédiat and passé récent, use auxiliary verbs differently compared to traditional compound tenses. This distinction is particularly relevant in everyday spoken French, where these tenses are commonly used to express immediate actions in the future and recent past [5, p.22]. The study has also emphasized the necessity of context in determining the proper auxiliary verb, as certain verbs can switch between avoir and être based on whether a direct object is involved. Ultimately, the proper use of auxiliary verbs is not just a grammatical requirement, but a key to mastering French tense construction and achieving fluency. This research aims to serve as a comprehensive guide for learners at various stages, offering a structured approach to mastering complex French tenses and helping them to navigate the intricacies of French grammar with confidence [3, p.34]. This expanded conclusion ties together the key points made throughout the paper, reiterates the significance of understanding auxiliary verbs, and suggests how this knowledge can be practically applied. It also encourages the learner to continue exploring French tenses for enhanced communication skills [2, p.15]. References: 1. Belatour, Y., Jenneppin, D., Léon-Dufour, M., Mattlé, A., & Teyssier, B. (1992). Grammaire du Français. Paris: Larousse. p. 45-78 2. Bady, G. (1990). Grammaire. Paris: Nathan. p. 12-50 3. Həsənova, X., Məmmədova, G., İsmiyeva, X., & Ağayeva, F. (2000). Le Français. Bakı: Təhsil Nəşriyyatı. p. 30-65 4. Quliyeva, M. (2007). Fransız dilinin qrammatikasına dair qısa məlumat. Bakı: Elm və Təhsil. p. 1555 5. Rəhimov, M.J. (2000). Le Français. Bakı: Qanun Nəşriyyatı. p. 20-40