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French • Level 0 • GRAMMAR

present avoir

💡 Grammar Rule

The Verb Avoir (To Have) in French

The verb avoir is one of the most important verbs in French. It is used to express possession, age, and is also used as an auxiliary (helping) verb for other tenses.

1. Present Tense Conjugation

The verb avoir is irregular, so you must memorize its forms:

  • J'ai (I have)
  • Tu as (You have - informal singular)
  • Il / Elle / On a (He / She / One has)
  • Nous avons (We have)
  • Vous avez (You have - formal singular or plural)
  • Ils / Elles ont (They have)

2. Usage Examples

Here are some basic examples of avoir in sentences:

  • J'ai un chat. (I have a cat.)
  • Tu as quel âge ? (How old are you? - literally: "You have what age?")
  • Il a une voiture. (He has a car.)
  • Nous avons faim. (We are hungry. - literally: "We have hunger.")

3. Negative Form

To make a sentence negative, place ne (or n' before a vowel) before the verb and pas after the verb.

  • Je n'ai pas de stylo. (I do not have a pen.)
  • Nous n'avons pas le temps. (We do not have the time.)

4. Interrogative Form (Questions)

There are several ways to ask questions. You can use Est-ce que or inversion:

  • Est-ce que vous avez un dictionnaire ? (Do you have a dictionary?)
  • As-tu un frère ? (Do you have a brother?)
I have a small dog.
J'ai un petit chien.
Oh, he is very cute!
Oh, il est très mignon !
Are you thirsty?
Tu as soif ?
Yes, I want some water.
Oui, je veux un peu d'eau.
He is twenty years old.
Il a vingt ans.
He is still very young.
Il est encore très jeune.
Is she hungry?
A-t-elle faim ?
Yes, she wants to eat now.
Oui, elle veut manger maintenant.
We have a new car.
Nous avons une voiture neuve.
It is truly magnificent!
Elle est vraiment magnifique !
Do you have the time?
Avez-vous l'heure ?
Yes, it is ten o'clock.
Oui, il est dix heures pile.
They have a lot of homework.
Ils ont beaucoup de devoirs.
What a shame for them!
Quel dommage pour eux !
Do they have a cat?
Ont-elles un chat ?
Yes, it is a black cat.
Oui, c'est un chat noir.
We are very lucky.
On a beaucoup de chance.
Yes, that is true.
Oui, c'est vrai.
Marie has an older brother.
Marie a un frère aîné.
His name is Paul, right?
Il s'appelle Paul, n'est-ce pas ?
I do not have the house keys.
Je n'ai pas les clés de la maison.
Oh no! That is a problem.
Oh non ! C'est un problème.
Aren't you cold?
Tu n'as pas froid ?
No, I have a thick sweater.
Non, j'ai un gros pull.
Do you have a question?
Avez-vous une question ?
No, everything is very clear.
Non, tout est très clair.
He has a headache.
Il a mal à la tête.
He must rest a little.
Il doit se reposer un peu.
We do not have time today.
Nous n'avons pas le temps aujourd'hui.
It is a pity, maybe tomorrow.
C'est dommage, peut-être demain.
Do they have a reservation?
Ont-ils une réservation ?
Yes, for two people.
Oui, pour deux personnes.
She has blue eyes.
Elle a les yeux bleus.
Yes, like her mother.
Oui, comme sa mère.
You all have a lot of courage.
Vous avez beaucoup de courage.
Thank you very much for the compliment.
Merci beaucoup pour le compliment.
I have an excellent idea.
J'ai une excellente idée.
Tell me everything now!
Dis-moi tout maintenant !
They do not have money.
Ils n'ont pas d'argent.
It is a difficult situation.
C'est une situation difficile.

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