Être and Avoir Conjugation: How to Use The Auxiliary Verbs

Verbs are the building blocks of any language, and in French, none are more crucial than être (to be) and avoir (to have) because they’re used not only on their own but also to form many essential tenses, like the passé composé (past perfect). However, their conjugations (how they change depending on the subject and tense) can be tricky at first.  In this article we will try to simplify that as much as possible. 

Conjugating Être and Avoir 

Etre

Avoir

Now that you know their conjugations, let’s explore their roles in French.

• Être (to be): This verb is used for identity, location, and states of being. For example, “Je suis français” (I am French)

 “Elle est à la maison” (She is at home).

 “Il est triste” (He is sad)

• Avoir (to have): This verb expresses possession, actions, age and experiences. Examples include “J’ai une voiture” (I have a car) 

“Nous avons mangé” (We ate).

“Elle a 20 ans” (She is 20 years old)

Both être and avoir are essential for forming the passé composé, the most common past tense in French. This tense is used to describe completed actions in the past. Here’s the formula:

• Subject pronoun + conjugated form of être or avoir in simple present + past participle of the main verb

Fun Fact: 

Did you know that the choice of être or avoir in the passé composé depends on the verb itself? Some verbs use être, like “aller” (to go) – “Je suis allé au cinéma” (I went to the cinema), while others use avoir – “J’ai parlé à mon ami” (I spoke to my friend).

Idiomatic Expressions

French is full of colorful expressions using être and avoir. Here are a few examples:

• Avoir faim (to be hungry): J’ai faim parce que je n’ai rien mangé depuis le matin. (I am hungry because I have eaten nothing since morning) 
• Avoir raison (to be right): Tu as raison. (you are right)
• Être en colère (to be angry): Elle est en colère comme son chien est perdu. (She is angry because her dog is lost)
• Être pressé (to be in a hurry): Elle s’est réveillée en retard donc elle est pressée. (She woke up late so she is in a hurry)
• Être fatigué (to be tired): Je suis fatiguée après une journée très longue. (I am tired after a very long day)
• Être content (to be happy): Je suis content de mon travail. (I am happy with my work)

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugations of être and avoir is a significant step towards French fluency. Consistent practice is key, and don’t hesitate to use resources where you can find interactive exercises and personalized guidance to solidify your understanding, like at La Forêt French Class. Remember, the more you practice, the better you will get with the verbs. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the six forms of être?

Ans: The six forms of the verb être (to be) in the present tense in French are:

• Je suis (I am)
• Tu es (You are – singular informal)
• Il/Elle/On est (He/She/One is)
• Nous sommes (We are)
• Vous êtes (You are – plural or singular formal)
• Ils/Elles sont (They are – masculine/feminine)

2. How to memorize avoir and être?

Ans: To memorize avoir and être, practice using them in everyday sentences. Create flashcards with each form, and repeat aloud. Use mnemonics like “Dr. & Mrs. Vandertramp” to remember être’s past tense verbs. Songs and rhymes can also aid recall. Consistent practice in context, such as writing simple sentences or reading aloud, will reinforce their forms and uses over time.

3. Is aller être or avoir?

Ans: Aller (to go) uses être as its auxiliary verb in the passé composé and other compound tenses. For example, “Je suis allé(e)” means “I went.”