Être and avoir
Être (to be) and avoir (to have) are the two most important verbs in French. You'll use them in nearly every sentence, either directly or as auxiliaries for forming past tenses. They're also the foundation of many idiomatic expressions that don't translate literally — French says "I have hunger" where English says "I am hungry." Master these two verbs thoroughly before moving on.
Être (to be)
Être is completely irregular — you must memorise each form. It's used for identity, characteristics, professions, nationality, location, time, and as an auxiliary verb for certain past tenses. You'll hear and use it constantly.
Present tense
| Pronoun | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| je | suis | Je suis fatigué. (I'm tired.) |
| tu | es | Tu es gentil. (You're kind.) |
| il/elle/on | est | Il est médecin. (He's a doctor.) |
| nous | sommes | Nous sommes prêts. (We're ready.) |
| vous | êtes | Vous êtes français ? (Are you French?) |
| ils/elles | sont | Ils sont ici. (They're here.) |
Uses of être
1. Identity and characteristics
- Je suis Marie. — I'm Marie.
- Elle est grande. — She's tall.
- C'est un livre. — It's a book.
2. Professions (without article)
- Il est professeur. — He's a teacher.
- Elle est médecin. — She's a doctor.
3. Nationality and origin
- Je suis américain. — I'm American.
- Elle est de Paris. — She's from Paris.
4. Time and dates
- Quelle heure est-il ? — What time is it?
- Il est trois heures. — It's three o'clock.
- C'est lundi. — It's Monday.
5. Location (for people and things)
- Où est le livre ? — Where is the book?
- Le livre est sur la table. — The book is on the table.
6. Passive voice auxiliary
- La porte est fermée. — The door is closed.
7. Compound tenses with certain verbs See Past tenses for verbs that use être.
Avoir (to have)
Present tense
| Pronoun | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| je | ai (j'ai) | J'ai une voiture. (I have a car.) |
| tu | as | Tu as faim ? (Are you hungry?) |
| il/elle/on | a | Il a 30 ans. (He's 30 years old.) |
| nous | avons | Nous avons le temps. (We have time.) |
| vous | avez | Vous avez des questions ? (Do you have questions?) |
| ils/elles | ont | Ils ont un problème. (They have a problem.) |
Uses of avoir
1. Possession
- J'ai un frère. — I have a brother.
- Elle a trois chats. — She has three cats.
2. Age
- J'ai vingt-cinq ans. — I'm 25 years old.
- Quel âge avez-vous ? — How old are you?
3. Physical states (where English uses "to be")
| French | Literal | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| avoir faim | to have hunger | to be hungry |
| avoir soif | to have thirst | to be thirsty |
| avoir chaud | to have heat | to be hot |
| avoir froid | to have cold | to be cold |
| avoir sommeil | to have sleepiness | to be sleepy |
| avoir peur | to have fear | to be afraid |
| avoir raison | to have reason | to be right |
| avoir tort | to have wrong | to be wrong |
| avoir de la chance | to have luck | to be lucky |
| avoir besoin de | to have need of | to need |
| avoir envie de | to have desire for | to feel like |
| avoir honte | to have shame | to be ashamed |
| avoir mal à | to have pain in | to hurt (body part) |
Examples:
- J'ai faim. — I'm hungry.
- Tu as raison. — You're right.
- Elle a mal à la tête. — She has a headache.
- J'ai envie de dormir. — I feel like sleeping.
4. Compound tenses (most verbs)
- J'ai mangé. — I ate. / I have eaten.
- Nous avons fini. — We finished.
Il y a (there is/there are)
Il y a expresses existence:
- Il y a un problème. — There is a problem.
- Il y a des gens dehors. — There are people outside.
- Est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ? — Is there a bank near here?
- Il n'y a pas de café. — There isn't any coffee.
Il y a for time
Il y a also means "ago":
- Il y a trois jours. — Three days ago.
- Je l'ai vu il y a une semaine. — I saw him a week ago.
C'est vs Il/Elle est
Both can translate to "it is" or "he/she is," but they're used differently:
C'est (+ noun with article or proper noun)
- C'est un livre. — It's a book.
- C'est Marie. — It's Marie.
- C'est mon professeur. — He's/She's my teacher.
- C'est intéressant. — It's interesting. (referring to a situation)
Il/Elle est (+ adjective or profession without article)
- Il est grand. — He's tall.
- Elle est française. — She's French.
- Il est médecin. — He's a doctor.
When both work (with different nuances)
- C'est beau. — It's beautiful. (general statement)
- Il est beau. — He is beautiful. (specific person)
Common expressions with être
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| être d'accord | to agree |
| être en train de + infinitive | to be (in the process of) doing |
| être sur le point de + infinitive | to be about to |
| être en retard | to be late |
| être à l'heure | to be on time |
| être en avance | to be early |
| être de bonne/mauvaise humeur | to be in a good/bad mood |
Examples:
- Je suis d'accord. — I agree.
- Je suis en train de manger. — I'm eating (right now).
- Il est en retard. — He's late.
Common expressions with avoir
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| avoir l'air (de) | to seem, to look |
| avoir lieu | to take place |
| avoir l'habitude de | to be used to |
| avoir hâte de | to be eager to |
| avoir du mal à | to have trouble |
| avoir beau + infinitive | to do something in vain |
Examples:
- Tu as l'air fatigué. — You look tired.
- La réunion a lieu à 15h. — The meeting takes place at 3pm.
- J'ai hâte de te voir. — I can't wait to see you.
- J'ai du mal à comprendre. — I have trouble understanding.