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Questions & Answers about Paul est ému.
What is the function of the verb est in the sentence?
Is ému used as a past participle or as an adjective in this sentence?
Although ému originates as the past participle of the verb émouvoir, in this sentence it functions as an adjective. It simply describes Paul's current state, rather than indicating that an action was performed on him.
How does the adjective ému agree with its subject in terms of gender and number?
Why is être used in this sentence instead of avoir as the auxiliary verb?
When a past participle functions as an adjective to describe a state, French uses être as the linking verb. In Paul est ému, the focus is on describing Paul's state rather than conveying an action that has been completed, which is why être is used instead of avoir.