être
The French verb “être” is the equivalent of the English verb “to be.” It’s the most frequently used verb in the whole French language. It’s an irregular verb, which means that is doesn’t follow regular conjugation patterns. This is the present tense of être:
- Je suis (I am)
- Tu es (You are – singular, informal)
- Il/Elle/On est (He/She/One is)
- Nous sommes (We are)
- Vous êtes (You are – plural or formal)
- Ils/Elles sont (They are)
The verb être is used to express identity, nationality, and describing locations. Examples include:
- Je suis étudiant(e) – I am a student.
- Elle est française – She is French.
- Nous sommes à la maison – We are at home.
- Tu es au café – You are at the cafe.
“Être” is also used to convey emotions and conditions:
- Je suis content – I am happy.
- Il est malade – He is sick.
