Breakdown of Ils n'ont pas encore lavé les draps et les oreillers.
et
and
ils
they (masculine/mixed)
avoir
to have
ne
not (used before the verb)
pas
not (used after the verb)
encore
still, again
laver
to wash (something)
le drap
the sheet
l'oreiller
the pillow (m)
Questions & Answers about Ils n'ont pas encore lavé les draps et les oreillers.
Where exactly does pas encore go when a verb is in the passé composé?
In the passé composé, negative phrases like pas encore (not yet) squeeze between the conjugated auxiliary verb (ont) and the past participle (lavé). The pattern is always: ne + auxiliary + pas encore + past participle.
Since they washed multiple things, shouldn't lavé have an -s at the end?
No, because the sentence uses the auxiliary verb avoir (have). With avoir, the past participle (lavé) only adds an -s or -e if the direct object comes before the verb. Here, the objects (les draps et les oreillers) come after the verb, so the spelling of lavé does not change.
Why does French repeat les before oreillers? Can I just say les draps et oreillers?
Are the final letters pronounced in the word draps?
No, both the p and the s are completely silent. The word is pronounced simply as 'drah'.
Learn Ils n'ont pas encore lavé les draps et les oreillers and more in French
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free