Unit 1 · Lesson 4
Key Irregular Verbs
Être and avoir are the two most important verbs in French. You use them to describe states, express feelings, state ages — and as auxiliary verbs to form past tenses. Know these cold.
Common avoir expressions
avoir faim — to be hungry
avoir soif — to be thirsty
avoir chaud — to be hot
avoir froid — to be cold
avoir raison — to be right
avoir tort — to be wrong
avoir … ans — to be … years old
Être: to be
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French
je suis
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English
I am
être: to be. Auxiliary for some passé composé verbs.
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Avoir: to have
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French
j'ai
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English
I have
avoir: to have. Used for age: j'ai seize ans.
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Avoir expressions
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Click a French word, then click its English match.
Être or avoir?
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Hint: nous → sommes (être)
We are Canadian.
Être & avoir quiz
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What is the correct form of 'être' for 'nous'?
You've covered articles, adjective agreement, prepositions, and the two most important irregular verbs. Now put it all together in the unit test.