Être and avoir in the present: key forms and avoir for states
Être and Avoir in the Present Tense
Let's start with matering two essential verbs:
être (to be) and avoir (to have).
They are the most frequently used verbs in the language and form the foundation of French conjugation.
Why These Two Verbs Are So Important
Être and avoir are not just common — they are structural verbs in French.
They are used to:
- Form many everyday sentences
- Build compound tenses (like the French past tense)
- Create the passive voice
Because of this, they appear constantly in spoken and written French.
Learning them early makes everything else much easier.
Present Tense Conjugation: Être
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | suis |
| tu | es |
| il / elle / on | est |
| nous | sommes |
| vous | êtes |
| ils / elles | sont |
Present Tense Conjugation: Avoir
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| j’ | ai |
| tu | as |
| il / elle / on | a |
| nous | avons |
| vous | avez |
| ils / elles | ont |
Why You Must Memorize Them Early
Unlike regular verbs, être and avoir are highly irregular.
There is no simple pattern — they must be learned by heart.
The good news:
👉 Once you know them, you unlock a huge part of French grammar.
A Common Mistake
One of the most common mistakes is confusing when to use être vs avoir.
In French, many physical states use avoir, not être.
French expresses them as “to have” + noun, not “to be + adjective”.
Examples:
- avoir faim → to be hungry (literally: to have hunger)
- avoir soif → to be thirsty
- avoir chaud / froid → to be hot / cold
- avoir peur → to be afraid
- avoir 20 ans → to be 20 years old
👉 You do NOT say “I am hungry” with être in French.
Key Takeaways
- Être and avoir are the two most important French verbs.
- They are used constantly in everyday speech.
- They form many compound tenses and the passive voice.
- Many physical states use avoir, not être.
- Their present tense forms are irregular and must be memorized early.
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this beginner level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
Quizzes and spaced repetition for every tense, for free on your phone—plus short grammar guides on our Learn hub.
