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How to Say ‘Was’ in French

S'est passée

S ay pah-say

[S ay pah-say]

💬 Usage Tip: In [s'est passée], the ending changes to match [journée], which is feminine, so you get [passée] with an extra written [e]. You'll see the same thing in [Elle s'est levée] and [La réunion s'est bien passée].

Phrase Breakdown

S'

[S]

is

In refelexive verbs, it marks the conjugation with oneself.

Example

Elle s'est blessée en cuisinant.

She hurt herself while cooking.

est

[ay]

is

A form of the verb 'être', used for auxiliary.

Example

L'examen est terminé.

The exam is finished.

passée

[pah-say]

passed

Referring to something that has happened.

Example

La journée est passée rapidement.

The day passed quickly.

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