je suis rentre

Carol W.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

je suis rentre

the statement was just je....... rentre, as there was nothing(chez,dansetc) after rentre i used avoir but it was wrong, so why is there sometimes nothing after rentrer when used with etre?please

Asked 2 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Carol,

I cannot find this example in the lesson but on its own 

Je rentre = I am going home 
Je suis rentré/e = I came home / I am home

Hope this helps!

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Carol,

The point to keep in mind is the issue of transitive v intransitive usage.

There is no obligation for an object with être intransitive usage.

The sentence simply expresses a state of "going back in"

Hope this helps

Jim

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

The transitive form of rentrer (the one with avoir) always requires a COD. In the absence of a COD, only the intransitive form (with être) is possible.

Je suis rentré. -- I'm back. (I have returned.)

Carol W.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

sorry, whats a 

cod?

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Carol, 

A COD in French grammar is a 'complément d'objet direct'.

It is what is referred to as a direct object pronoun which is a term you might be more familiar with.

Here is an explanation -

French direct object pronoun

Hope this helps!

je suis rentre

the statement was just je....... rentre, as there was nothing(chez,dansetc) after rentre i used avoir but it was wrong, so why is there sometimes nothing after rentrer when used with etre?please

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Let me take a look at that...