Language/French/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi French learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "have" in French. We will look at the conjugation of the verb, as well as some examples of how it is used in sentences.
Conjugation
The verb "have" in French is "avoir". It is an irregular verb, so it does not follow the same conjugation pattern as regular verbs. Here is the conjugation of "avoir" in the present tense:
| Person | Pronunciation | French | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| J' | /a.vwaʁ/ | J'ai | I have |
| Tu | /ty.a.vwaʁ/ | Tu as | You have |
| Il/Elle/On | /il.ɛl.ɔ̃.a.vwaʁ/ | Il/Elle/On a | He/She/One has |
| Nous | /nu.za.vwaʁ/ | Nous avons | We have |
| Vous | /vu.za.vwaʁ/ | Vous avez | You (formal) have |
| Ils/Elles | /il.ɛl.za.vwaʁ/ | Ils/Elles ont | They have |
Examples
Now let's look at some examples of how "avoir" is used in sentences.
- Person 1: Tu as un chat? (Do you have a cat?)
- Person 2: Oui, j'ai un chat. (Yes, I have a cat.)
- Person 1: Est-ce que vous avez des enfants? (Do you have any children?)
- Person 2: Oui, nous avons deux enfants. (Yes, we have two children.)
- Person 1: Est-ce qu'ils ont une maison? (Do they have a house?)
- Person 2: Oui, ils ont une maison. (Yes, they have a house.)
Tips
Here are some tips for using "avoir" correctly:
- When using "avoir" with a direct object, the direct object must be placed after the verb. For example: J'ai un chat. (I have a cat.)
- When using "avoir" with an indirect object, the indirect object must be placed before the verb. For example: Je lui ai donné un cadeau. (I gave him a gift.)
- When using "avoir" with a reflexive pronoun, the reflexive pronoun must be placed before the verb. For example: Je me suis lavé les mains. (I washed my hands.)
To improve your French Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Related Lessons
- Use of the definite article to indicate a habitual action
- ils with arbitrary reference
- Verbs whose stems end in c— or g—
- Dates
- Conjugation group 1 — verbs whose infinitive ends in —er
- Nouns with irregular plurals
- Singular or plural when a number of individuals have one item each
- Conjugation group 3 — verbs with infinitives which end in —re
- Demonstrative determiners
- How to use “et” in cardinal numbers