Participe passé de "coûter", "peser", "valoir" (sens propre)

French likes to show agreement. If a lady is described, we add an e. If things are plural, we add an s. With the passé composé, we usually do this when the thing we talk about is mentioned before the verb. Imagine you are buying apples. You say: "Les pommes que j'ai achetées." See the es at the end? That is normal. But coûter, peser, and valoir are different. When they describe a literal measure, they are "intrinsically neutral." They don't see the apples as a direct object. They see them as a measurement. It is like a grammar traffic light that stays yellow. You don't need to stop and add letters. You just keep the basic form. It is one of the few times French actually asks you to do *less* work. We love that, right?

1. 1Pick your verb: coûter, peser, or valoir.
2. 2Put it in the passé composé. Use avoir as the helper.
3. 3Identify the subject. For example, les euros or les kilos.
4. 4Check the meaning. Is it a literal price or weight?
5. 5If it is literal, keep the participle as is.
6. 6coûté stays coûté.
7. 7pesé stays pesé.
8. 8valu stays valu.
9. 9Do not add e, s, or es.
10. 10Even if the price or weight comes before the verb!

Use this rule when you are at the grocery store. You are weighing your vegetables. You might say: "Les trois kilos que ce sac a pesé." No s at the end of pesé! Use it when you talk about your new shoes. "Les cent euros que mes baskets ont coûté." Again, no s on coûté. It applies anytime you are measuring a quantity. This includes money, weight, or distance. It is the "Measure Rule." Use it for your luggage at the airport. Use it for the price of a coffee. It is very practical for daily life. It makes your French sound very precise. Even some native speakers forget this one. You will be the smartest person in the room. Just don't brag too much!

There is a small twist. Languages love twists! You only use this "no agreement" rule for literal meanings. What if you use the verb metaphorically? Imagine a project that "cost" you a lot of effort. Or a choice that "weighed" heavily on your mind. In these cases, the verb is no longer a measure. It becomes a normal action. Then, the agreement returns! For example: "Les efforts que ce travail a coûtés." Here, we add the s. Why? Because efforts are not money. It is a figurative cost. Think of it like a light switch. Literal meaning? Switch off the agreement. Figurative meaning? Switch on the agreement. Most of the time in A1, you will use literal meanings. So, you can mostly keep the switch off.

The biggest mistake is being too good at French! You learn the general rule for avoir. You want to agree with everything. You see les dollars and you want to write coûtés. Resist the urge! Remember the "Measure Rule." Another mistake is mixing up the verbs. Only a few verbs do this. manger or voir always agree if the object is first. Don't apply the "no agreement" rule to every verb. Only use it for measurement verbs. Also, watch out for the figurative sense. If you are talking about "weighing arguments," you must agree. It is a bit like a grammar trap. But now you have the map to avoid it. If you are unsure, ask yourself: "Can I put this on a scale or pay for it with cash?" If yes, don't change the ending.

Let's compare this to the verb acheter (to buy). If you say: "Les gâteaux que j'ai achetés," you add an s. This is because gâteaux is the direct object. You bought the cakes. Now look at coûter. "Les dix euros que les gâteaux ont coûté." No s! The euros are not the object. They are the price. It is a subtle difference. One is the thing you get. The other is the measure of its value. Think of coûter like a ruler. A ruler doesn't change because you measure a long box. It just stays a ruler. Regular verbs are like sponges. They soak up the gender and number of the object. Measurement verbs are like stones. They stay the same.