Unit 2 · Lesson 3

Irregular Verbs: être, avoir, aller

These three verbs appear in almost every French sentence. They don't follow regular patterns — but that's exactly why you must know them perfectly. Aller also unlocks the near future tense.

Near future: aller + infinitive

Je vais étudier ce soir.

I am going to study tonight.

Nous allons voyager cet été.

We are going to travel this summer.

Est-ce qu'il va répondre?

Is he going to answer?

Negation: ne + aller + pas + infinitive

Je ne vais pas sortir. — I'm not going to go out.

The avoir trap: feelings, age, and sensations

One of the most common mistakes in French is using être where French actually uses avoir. French uses avoir (to have) for many expressions that feel like states of being in English:

avoir faimto be hungry

avoir soifto be thirsty

avoir froidto be cold (body)

avoir chaudto be hot (body)

avoir peurto be scared/afraid

avoir honteto be ashamed

avoir raisonto be right

avoir tortto be wrong

avoir ... ansto be ... years old

avoir l'airto seem / to look (like)

In all these expressions, avoir is the only correct choice. Never substitute être — 'Je suis froid' sounds strange or means the food is cold, not you.

être, avoir, aller: all forms

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French

je suis

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English

I am (être)

être: to be. Completely irregular. Memorize all six forms.

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Near future phrases

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Click a French word, then click its English match.

Conjugate être, avoir, or aller

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Hint: aller → je vais

Jeau gymnase après l'école. (aller)

I am going to the gym after school.

être, avoir, aller quiz

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How is the near future formed in French?

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