Breakdown of L'architecte aurait changé de carrière.
avoir
to have
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
changer
to change
la carrière
the career
l'architecte
the architect (m/f)
Questions & Answers about L'architecte aurait changé de carrière.
How is the past conditional formed here with aurait changé?
The past conditional is made of two parts. First, you take the auxiliary verb (in this case, avoir) and put it in the present conditional to get aurait (would have). Then, you add the past participle of the main verb, changer (to change), which is changé.
Why is it de carrière instead of des carrières for "careers"?
In French, when you talk about changing or switching something (like a career, a train, or an opinion), you use the expression changer de followed directly by the noun with no article. Also, French usually keeps the noun singular in this expression, so "to change careers" is simply changer de carrière.
I've heard the past conditional is used in the news. How does that apply here?
In French journalism, the past conditional is frequently used to report unconfirmed information or rumors. Because of this, a sentence like L'architecte aurait changé de carrière is often used by reporters to mean "The architect reportedly (or allegedly) changed careers," rather than just expressing a hypothetical "would have."
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