être

ByFast French

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.

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • subjunctive irregular verbs

    ByFast French

    While many French verbs form their present subjunctive by taking the third-person plural stem of the present indicative and adding standard endings, several important verbs are irregular and must be memorised. Below is a list of the main irregular verbs in the present subjunctive, each conjugated fully. être (to be) Note that when there is…

  • prochain placement

    ByFast French

    The French adjective “prochain” means “next.” Like most adjectives, it is usually placed after the noun it describes, but not always. Let’s find out how the position of “prochain” can vary. Why do you say “la semaine prochaine” (next week) but you also say “les deux prochaines semaines” (the next two weeks)? In the first…

  • Thing

    ByFast French

    In French, there are several words used to refer to “thing.” Each has its nuances and specific contexts where it’s most appropriate. Here’s a guide to the different French words for “thing.” Chose The most common word for “thing” is une chose. It is used broadly and can refer to just about any object or…

  • franchir

    ByFast French

    The French verb franchir means “to cross,” “to overcome,” or “to break through.” It is often used in both literal and figurative contexts and appears frequently in formal and journalistic French. It is a regular verb of the second group, conjugated like finir, choisir or réussir. Etymology Franchir comes from the Old French franchir (12th…