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Être and Avoir Conjugation: How to Use The Auxiliary Verbs

Arti Goyal 2 min read
etre and avoir conjugation featured image

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

PresentImperfectFutureConditionalSubjunctiveImperfect subj.
Je /j’suisetaisseraiseraissoisfusse
Tu esetaisserasseraissois fusses
Il estetaitseraseraitsoitfut
Nous sommesetionsseronsserionssoyonsfussions
Vous etesetiezserezseriezsoyezfussiez
Ils sontetaientserontseraient soient fussent
Passe composePast perfectFuture perfectPast conditionalPast subjunctivePluperfect subj.
Je/jai eteavais ete aurai eteaurais eteaie eteEusse ete
Tuas eteavais eteauras eteaurais eteaies eteEusses ete
Ila eteavait eteaura eteaurait eteaie eteEut ete
Nous avons eteavions eteaurons eteaurions eteayons ete Eussions ete
Vous avez eteaviez eteaurez eteauriez ete ayez ete Eussiez ete
Ils ont eteavaient eteauront eteauraient eteaient ete Eussent ete 
Passe simplePast anteriorImperativePast imperative
Je/j fuseus ete
Tu fusEus etesoisaie ete 
Il futEut ete
Nous fumesEumes etesoyonsayons ete
Vous futesEutes etesoyezayez ete
Ils furentEurent ete
Participles 
Present: etant
Past: eté 
Perfect: ayant ete 
Past infinitive 
avoir été

Avoir

PresentimperfectFutureConditionalSubjunctiveImperfect subj.
Je /j’aiavaisauraiauraisaieeusse
Tu asavaisaurasauraisaieseusses
Il aavaitauraauraitaieeut
Nous avonsavionsauronsaurionsayonseussions
Vous avezaviezaurezauriezayezeussiez
Ils ontavaientaurontauraientaienteussent
Passe composePast perfectFuture perfectPast conditionalPast subjunctivePluperfect subj.
Je/jai euavais euaurai euaurais euaie euEusse eu
Tuas euavais euauras euaurais euaies euEusses eu
Ila euavait euaura euaurait euaie euEut eu
Nousavons euavions euaurons euaurions euayons euEussions eu
Vousavez euaviez euaurez euauriez eu ayez eu Eussiez eu
Ilsont euavaient euauront euauraient euaient eu Eussent eu
Passe simplePast anteriorImperativePast imperative
Je/j euseus eu
Tu eusEus euaieaie eu
Il eutEut eu
Nous eumesEumes euayonsayons eu
Vous eutesEutes euayezayez eu
Ils eurentEurent eu
Participles 
Present: ayant
Past: eu 
Perfect: ayant ete 
Past infinitive 
avoir eu

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).

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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.”

Arti Goyal

Arti is a passionate French trainer with extensive experience in guiding students through DELF, TEF, and TCF exam preparation. Known for her engaging teaching methods, she combines a deep knowledge of the French language with an ability to make learning both effective and enjoyable. Arti focuses on practical communication skills, ensuring that her students not only succeed in their exams but also feel confident using French in everyday situations. Committed to her students’ growth, she fosters a learning environment where French becomes more than just a subject—it’s an enriching and lasting experience.

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