Foreign Languages
Être and avoir.
Definition
Être (to be) and avoir (to have) are the two most important French verbs. They are irregular and must be memorized. Beyond their basic meanings, they serve as auxiliary verbs for forming past tenses: most verbs use avoir in passé composé, but movement and reflexive verbs use être.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.) — être for identity
- 2 J'ai deux frères. (I have two brothers.) — avoir for possession
- 3 Je suis allé au parc. (I went to the park.) — être as auxiliary in passé composé
Key Fact
Être passé composé verbs (DR MRS VANDERTRAMP): Devenir, Revenir, Monter, Rester, Sortir, Venir, Aller, Naître, Descendre, Entrer, Rentrer, Tomber, Retourner, Arriver, Mourir, Partir