Learn Hardcore French: Ce dossier a été perdu puis retrouvé hier soir. - This folder was lost and then found last night.

It’s the passive voice in the passé composé. Structure: Subject + auxiliary avoir (present) + past participle of être (été) + past participle of the main verb. So: Ce dossier a été perdu = “was lost.” The second participle (retrouvé) is coordinated with the first and shares the same auxiliary.

Why use a été and not était?

A été (passé composé) presents completed events. Était (imparfait) would describe an ongoing state (“the file was in a lost state”) rather than a sequence of events. Because we’re narrating two completed happenings (lost, then found), the passé composé is the natural choice.

In English, is this “was lost” or “has been lost”?

Both are possible, but English typically prefers the simple past here: “was lost then found last night.” French often uses the passé composé where English uses the simple past.

Why isn’t été repeated before retrouvé?

It’s ellipsis in coordination: a été perdu puis (a été) retrouvé. You can repeat it (a été perdu puis a été retrouvé) for emphasis or clarity, but it’s heavier and usually unnecessary.

Do perdu and retrouvé agree in gender/number?

Yes, in the passive with être they agree with the subject. Here dossier is masculine singular, so no extra endings. Examples:

Cette lettre a été perdue puis retrouvée. (feminine singular)
Ces dossiers ont été perdus puis retrouvés. (masculine plural)

Could I say this in the active voice?

Yes:

Neutral/impersonal: On a perdu puis retrouvé ce dossier hier soir.
Explicit subject: Ils ont perdu puis retrouvé le dossier hier soir. The passive keeps the focus on the file rather than the doer.

Can I use the reflexive form se perdre?

You can say Le dossier s’est perdu to mean “the file got lost” (no explicit agent), especially for things like mail. But you would not say s’est retrouvé for an object. Prefer: Le dossier s’est perdu puis a été retrouvé / … puis on l’a retrouvé.

Does hier soir modify both actions or just the second?

By default it’s understood to cover the whole event sequence. If only the second action happened last night, clarify: Ce dossier a été perdu plus tôt, puis il a été retrouvé hier soir.

Where can I place hier soir?

Common options:

End: … retrouvé hier soir. (most common)
Fronted: Hier soir, ce dossier a été perdu puis retrouvé.
Mid-clause is possible but less elegant. Fronting adds emphasis on time.

Do I need a comma before puis?

No. Puis already signals the sequence. A comma is optional if you want a slight pause: … perdu, puis retrouvé…, but it’s not required.

Can I replace puis with et, ensuite, or après?

puis = “then,” concise and ideal here.
et just links actions without highlighting order; acceptable but weaker.
ensuite is fine in a full clause: … a été perdu, ensuite il a été retrouvé.
après usually needs a complement or a new clause: Après, il a été retrouvé. It doesn’t fit cleanly between two coordinated participles.

Is hier soir the same as “last night”? Could I say la nuit dernière?

Hier soir = “yesterday evening/last night (evening hours).” La nuit dernière focuses on nighttime (later/overnight). Hier nuit is nonstandard in most varieties; avoid it.

Why not hier soirée?

Because soir (evening, time-of-day) is used in fixed expressions like hier soir, ce soir, demain soir. Soirée refers to the duration/event of the evening; you’d say dans la soirée or en soirée, not hier soirée.

What exactly does dossier mean? Is it a computer “file”?

Dossier = folder/case file/collection of documents. In computing, dossier = folder/directory. A single computer “file” is fichier. So depending on context, dossier could be a physical folder, a case file, or a digital folder.

How do I add who lost/found it?

Use par + agent:

Ce dossier a été perdu puis retrouvé par Marie hier soir. Placement: the agent phrase typically follows the participles; the time phrase usually comes at the end. Both orders (par Marie hier soir / hier soir par Marie) are possible.

Could I use the literary past fut?

Yes, in formal or literary writing: Ce dossier fut perdu puis retrouvé hier soir. It’s rare in everyday speech.

Is perdu et retrouvé okay instead of puis?

Et is acceptable but neutral; it doesn’t highlight the chronology as clearly. Puis explicitly marks “then,” which suits a sequence (lost, then found).

If I switch to the active with a pronoun, does the participle agree?

With avoir, the past participle agrees with a preceding direct object. Example with a feminine noun:

On l’a perdue puis retrouvée. (refers to la lettre) With le dossier (masculine), there’s no visible change: On l’a perdu puis retrouvé.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Ce dossier: suh doh-syé
a été: a ay-tay
perdu: pear-doo
puis: pwee
retrouvé: ruh-troo-vay
hier soir: yair swar

Why Ce dossier and not Cet dossier?

Cet is used before masculine nouns starting with a vowel sound (cet homme, cet arbre). Dossier starts with a consonant sound, so it’s Ce dossier.