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Introduction

The auxiliary verbs "être" (to be) and "avoir" (to have) are the two most important verbs in French. They are used to form compound tenses (passé composé, plus-que-parfait, etc.) and also have their own meanings. Mastering these verbs is essential for progressing in French.

The Auxiliary "ÊTRE" (To Be)

Meaning: "être" expresses existence, state, or identity.

Present tense conjugation:

Main uses of "être":

• Identity: Je suis Marie (I am Marie). Il est médecin (He is a doctor).
• Nationality: Elle est canadienne (She is Canadian). Nous sommes français (We are French).
• State or description: Tu es grand (You are tall). Vous êtes heureux (You are happy).
• Location: Je suis à Paris (I am in Paris). Le livre est sur la table (The book is on the table).
• Date and time: Nous sommes lundi (It's Monday). Il est 10 heures (It's 10 o'clock).

The Auxiliary "AVOIR" (To Have)

Meaning: "avoir" expresses possession, age, or sensations.

Present tense conjugation:

Main uses of "avoir":

• Possession: J'ai un stylo (I have a pen). Elle a une maison (She has a house).
• Age: J'ai 25 ans (I am 25 years old). Il a 10 ans (He is 10 years old).
• Physical sensations: J'ai faim (I'm hungry). Tu as soif (You're thirsty). Il a chaud (He's hot).
• Common expressions: Avoir raison (to be right), avoir tort (to be wrong), avoir peur (to be afraid), avoir besoin de (to need), avoir envie de (to feel like).

Compound Tenses

The auxiliary verbs "être" and "avoir" are used to form compound tenses like the passé composé.

With the auxiliary AVOIR (most verbs):

📌 The past participle does NOT agree with the subject when using "avoir".

With the auxiliary ÊTRE (movement verbs and pronominal verbs):

⚠️ The past participle AGREES with the subject when using "être": masculine/feminine, singular/plural.

Main verbs conjugated with "être":

• Aller (to go), venir (to come), arriver (to arrive), partir (to leave)
• Entrer (to enter), sortir (to go out), monter (to go up), descendre (to go down)
• Naître (to be born), mourir (to die), rester (to stay), tomber (to fall)
• Retourner (to return), rentrer (to come back home), passer (to pass by)
• All pronominal verbs: se lever, se laver, s'habiller, etc.

Differences Between ÊTRE and AVOIR

Common Expressions

With ÊTRE:

• Être en train de (to be in the process of): Je suis en train de manger (I am eating).
• Être d'accord (to agree): Je suis d'accord avec toi (I agree with you).
• Être en retard (to be late): Nous sommes en retard (We are late).
• Être à l'heure (to be on time): Vous êtes à l'heure (You are on time).

With AVOIR:

• Avoir besoin de (to need): J'ai besoin d'aide (I need help).
• Avoir envie de (to feel like): Tu as envie de sortir ? (Do you feel like going out?)
• Avoir l'air (to seem): Elle a l'air fatiguée (She seems tired).
• Avoir de la chance (to be lucky): Nous avons de la chance (We are lucky).

Tips for Beginners

• Practice regularly: These verbs are irregular and must be memorized.
• Pay attention to pronunciation: "suis" [sɥi], "es" [ɛ], "est" [ɛ], "sont" [sɔ̃]
• For the passé composé: Most verbs use "avoir". Memorize the verbs that take "être".
• Past participle agreement: With "être", the participle agrees with the subject (elle est allée, ils sont partis).

Conclusion

The auxiliary verbs "être" and "avoir" are fundamental in French. They have their own meanings and are indispensable for forming compound tenses. Take the time to master them well, as they are constantly used in the French language.

Interactive Exercise