A1
avoir — to have
The present tense of avoir, the expressions that use it where English uses “be”, and its role as the auxiliary of the passé composé.
| j’ai | I have |
| tu as | you have |
| il / elle a | he / she has |
| nous avons | we have |
| vous avez | you have |
| ils / elles ont | they have |
J’ai deux frères.
I-have two brothers
I have two brothers.
Ils ont and ils sont differ by one letter and one sound. Confusing them is common and changes they have into they are.
States that English is and French has
| avoir faim | to be hungry |
| avoir soif | to be thirsty |
| avoir froid / chaud | to be cold / hot |
| avoir peur | to be afraid |
| avoir raison / tort | to be right / wrong |
| avoir … ans | to be … years old |
Tu as faim ?
you have hunger
Are you hungry?
Je suis faim.
J’ai faim.
Faim is a noun — hunger. You have it. Je suis faim is as odd in French as I am hunger is in English.
Age is the one that catches everyone
Elle a trente ans.
she has thirty years
She’s thirty.
And ans cannot be dropped. Elle a trente is unfinished — thirty what?
It builds the past tense
Most French verbs form their past with avoir plus a participle, which is the second reason this verb has to be automatic.
J’ai mangé.
I-have eaten
I ate.
See the passé composé.