Question 1

Why isn't fait spelled faite to agree with the feminine word la couture?

Accepted Answer

You correctly noticed that la couture is the preceding direct object (represented by qu'). Normally in the passé composé, the past participle agrees with a preceding direct object. However, there is a special exception: when faire is followed immediately by an infinitive like réparer (the causative construction), its past participle fait never changes. It is always invariable.

Question 2

Could I just say qu'elle a réparé instead of qu'elle a fait réparer?

Accepted Answer

You could, but it would change the meaning. Saying qu'elle a réparé means she physically fixed the seam herself. Using the causative construction faire + infinitive (elle a fait réparer) means she had someone else fix it for her.

Question 3

Why does parfaite have an e at the end but fait doesn't?

Accepted Answer

Parfaite is an adjective describing the subject of the sentence, La couture. Since couture is a feminine singular noun, the adjective takes the feminine singular form. Fait, on the other hand, is a past participle locked into its invariable form due to the faire + infinitive rule.

Question 4

Why do we use qu'elle instead of qui elle in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

We use que (shortened to qu' before a vowel) because it acts as the direct object of the verb phrase (she had what repaired? The seam). You only use qui as a relative pronoun when the noun it replaces is the subject performing the action of the verb.

La couture qu'elle a fait réparer est parfaite.

Breakdown of La couture qu'elle a fait réparer est parfaite.

Questions & Answers about La couture qu'elle a fait réparer est parfaite.

Learn La couture qu'elle a fait réparer est parfaite and more in French