“il avait mis” en “il avait mit”? The difference lies in the correct usage of past participles in French grammar. This article clarifies which option is grammatically correct and why, helping you avoid common mistakes when using compound past tenses.
Il avait mis (correct)
Il avait mit (onjuist)
Understanding Past Participles in Compound Tenses
In French, compound tenses like the plus-que-parfait (pluperfect) are formed by combining the auxiliary verb (“avoir” of “être”) with a past participle. The correct form here is essential because it affects the meaning and accuracy of the sentence.
Juiste vorm: “Il avait mis”
De juiste uitdrukking is “il avait mis”waarbij “mis” is the past participle of the verb mettre (to put). In this phrase:
- “Il avait” translates to “he had” (the imperfect tense of the auxiliary verb “avoir”).
- “Mis” is the correct past participle of mettre and does not change according to the subject’s gender or number.
Gebruik “il avait mis” is grammatically accurate because “mis” remains the unchanged past participle after “avait”, and this combination expresses a completed action in the past.
Veelgemaakte fout: “Il avait mit”
A frequent error is writing “il avait mit” in plaats van “il avait mis”. This mistake occurs because learners often confuse the conjugation patterns of verbs ending in -re (like “mettre”) with those ending in -ir (like “finir”).
Waarom “Mit” is onjuist
- “Mit” is not a valid form of the verb mettre in any compound tense.
- It does not function as a past participle, and using it here would break the grammatical rules for compound tense formation in French.
Waarom “Il avait mis” is de juiste vorm
To confirm that “il avait mis” is correct, remember that mettre belongs to the group of verbs with irregular past participles. The past participle of “mettre” is always mis in compound tenses, regardless of the subject or context.
- Voorbeelden:
- “Elle avait mis” (She had put)
- “Nous avions mis” (We had put)
- “Ils avaient mis” (They had put)
These forms follow the same rule, emphasizing the invariability of “mis” as the past participle in such cases.
Additional Examples to Reinforce Correct Usage
If you’re unsure, consider other verbs with irregular past participles that remain consistent in compound tenses:
- “Il avait dit” (He had said) — from the verb dire
- “Il avait fait” (He had done) — from the verb faire
- “Il avait pris” (He had taken) — from the verb prendre
In all these cases, the past participle does not change, highlighting the correct structure for “il avait mis”.