The verb avoir is one of the most important verbs in French, serving as both a primary verb and an auxiliary verb in compound tenses.
Conjugation of Avoir
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | ai |
| Tu | as |
| Il/Elle/On | a |
| Nous | avons |
| Vous | avez |
| Ils/Elles | ont |
Compound Past Tense with Avoir
Avoir is used as an auxiliary verb to form the passé composé (compound past tense) in French. This tense is used to describe actions that have been completed in the past.
Structure
Subject + avoir (present) + past participle
Examples
- J'ai mangé. (I have eaten.)
- Tu as fini. (You have finished.)
- Il a vu le film. (He saw the movie.)
Past Participle of Avoir
The past participle of avoir is eu, which is used in the passé composé.
Example
- J'ai eu un chat. (I had a cat.)
Key Uses of Avoir
- Possession:
- Compound Past Tense:
- Expressions with Avoir:
Common Expressions with Avoir
- Avoir besoin de: To need
- J'ai besoin de dormir. (I need to sleep.)
- Avoir envie de: To want/to feel like
- Elle a envie de partir. (She wants to leave.)
- Avoir peur de: To be afraid of
- Ils ont peur du noir. (They are afraid of the dark.)
Practice Sentences
- Nous avons eu une réunion importante hier. (We had an important meeting yesterday.)
- Vous avez acheté un nouveau téléphone. (You bought a new phone.)
- Elles ont écrit une lettre. (They wrote a letter.)
By mastering avoir, you’ll unlock a crucial tool for expressing past actions and conveying possession in French.