“il n'a pas plu” or “il n'a pas plut”? Understanding the correct use of past participles in French grammar will clarify which option is appropriate. This article explains which form to use in negative sentences with weather-related expressions or verbs of liking, so you can avoid common mistakes.
Il n’a pas plu (correct)
Il n’a pas plut (incorrect)
Understanding Past Participles in Negative Compound Tenses
In French, the passé composé (past tense) is often used to describe completed actions. It is formed by combining the auxiliary verb “avoir” (or sometimes “être”) with a past participle. Selecting the correct past participle is crucial for grammatical accuracy, especially in negative sentences.
Correct Form: “Il n’a pas plu”
The correct expression is “il n'a pas plu”, where “plu” serves as the past participle of the verb plaire (to please) or pleuvoir (to rain). In this phrase:
- “Il n'a pas” translates to “it didn’t” or “he/she didn’t” (the auxiliary verb “avoir” in the passé composé, used in the negative form).
- “Plu” is the proper past participle for both plaire and pleuvoir in compound tenses, and it remains the same regardless of context or subject.
Using “il n'a pas plu” is grammatically accurate, as “plu” is the invariable past participle used with both meanings — whether talking about the weather or something that wasn’t liked or pleasing.
Common Mistake: “Il n’a pas plut”
Writing “il n'a pas plut” instead of “il n'a pas plu” is a common error, likely due to the similarity in sound between “plu” and “plut”. However, “plut” is not a valid past participle and cannot be used in the passé composé.
Why “Plut” is Incorrect
- “Plut” is the third person singular form of the passé simple (simple past) for pleuvoir, and it appears only in literary contexts, usually in written or formal French.
- It does not function as a past participle and should not be used in compound tenses like the passé composé.
Why “Il n’a pas plu” is the Correct Form
The correct past participle for both plaire and pleuvoir in compound tenses is always plu. This form does not change, making “il n’a pas plu” the correct option in any context involving compound tenses.
- Examples:
- “La pluie n’a pas plu” (The rain was not pleasing).
- “Ça ne m’a pas plu” (I didn’t like it).
- “Il n’a pas plu hier” (It didn’t rain yesterday).
In each instance, plu remains consistent as the correct past participle.
Additional Examples for Reference
To solidify the rule, here are other verbs with similar past participle behavior in compound tenses:
- “Il n’a pas fait” (He didn’t do) — from faire
- “Il n’a pas dit” (He didn’t say) — from dire
- “Il n’a pas vu” (He didn’t see) — from voir
These examples confirm the structure needed for “il n’a pas plu”, emphasizing the invariable nature of the correct past participle form.