Avoir means “to have”. Along with etre, it is one of the two most essential verbs in French. You use it to talk about possessions, age, and feelings, and to form compound past tenses.
Present tense of avoir
- j’ai = I have
- tu as = you have
- il / elle a = he / she has
- nous avons = we have
- vous avez = you have
- ils / elles ont = they have
Talking about possessions
- J’ai un chat. = I have a cat.
- Elle a une voiture. = She has a car.
- Nous avons un appartement. = We have an apartment.
Saying your age
In French, age is expressed with avoir, not etre.
- J’ai vingt ans. = I am twenty years old.
- Elle a dix ans. = She is ten years old.
- Vous avez quel age ? = How old are you?
Expressing physical feelings
Many physical sensations use avoir in French, not etre.
- J’ai faim. = I am hungry.
- Il a soif. = He is thirsty.
- Nous avons froid. = We are cold.
- Tu as chaud ? = Are you hot?
- J’ai peur. = I am afraid.
Il y a: there is / there are
Il y a is one of the most useful expressions in French. It does not change for singular or plural.
- Il y a un probleme. = There is a problem.
- Il y a des magasins ici. = There are shops here.
- Il n’y a pas de parking. = There is no parking.
Final tip
Pay attention to expressions with avoir that translate differently in English. French uses avoir where English uses “to be” for many physical states. Learning these as fixed expressions is faster than translating word for word.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.