Question 1

Since the current lesson is about invariable adjectives acting as adverbs, why are we using complètement here?

Accepted Answer

The rule about using an invariable adjective as an adverb only applies to specific fixed verb expressions, like coûter cher (to cost a lot) or travailler dur (to work hard). The verb changer doesn't have a fixed adjective pair like this, so to say 'completely', we just use a standard adverb ending in -ment.

Question 2

Why is complètement placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle?

Accepted Answer

In the passé composé, adverbs of degree or quantity (like beaucoup, trop, and complètement) usually go between the conjugated auxiliary verb (a) and the past participle (changé). Keep in mind that many other long adverbs ending in -ment usually go after the past participle instead.

Question 3

Because changer describes a change of state, shouldn't it use être in the passé composé?

Accepted Answer

It's a very logical guess, but no. While many verbs describing a change of state (like devenir, naître, or mourir) do use être, changer is a notable exception. It almost always uses avoir in the passé composé, regardless of whether it has a direct object or not.

Question 4

Why doesn't changé have an extra -e to agree with the feminine subject La ville?

Accepted Answer

Because the sentence uses the auxiliary verb avoir. With avoir, the past participle only agrees with a preceding direct object, never with the subject. Since there is no preceding direct object here, changé remains invariable in its default form.

La ville a complètement changé.

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