Expressions with Avoir
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grammar
avoir
expressions
Expressions with the Auxiliary Verb “Avoir”
The auxiliary verb “avoir” is essential in French. It is used for:
Forming compound tenses (passé composé, plus-que-parfait).
Common expressions (avoir faim, avoir peur, etc.).
1. “Avoir” in the Present Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example (Expression) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | have | I am hungry. | J’ai faim. |
| You | have | You are right. | Tu as raison. |
| He/She | has | He is scared. | Il a peur. |
| We | have | We are wrong. | Nous avons tort. |
| You (pl.) | have | You are sleepy. | Vous avez sommeil. |
| They | have | They are 20 years old. | Elles ont 20 ans. |
Useful Expressions:
- To be hot/cold → Avoir chaud/froid.
- To be thirsty → Avoir soif.
- To be lucky → Avoir de la chance.
- To need… → Avoir besoin de…
2. “Avoir” in the Past Tense (Passé Composé)
We use “avoir” + past participle to talk about the past.
Examples:
- I was scared yesterday. → J’ai eu peur hier.
- You were right to leave. → Tu as eu raison de partir.
- She was hungry after school. → Elle a eu faim après l’école.
Structure:
Subject + avoir (in present) + past participle (eu, pris, fait…)
3. “Avoir” in the Imperfect Tense
The imperfect tense describes past habits or states.
Conjugation:
- I had | You had | He/She had
- We had | You (pl.) had | They had
Examples:
- When I was little, I was always thirsty. → Quand j’étais petit, j’avais toujours soif.
- They were scared of the dark. → Ils avaient peur du noir.
4. Idiomatic Expressions with “Avoir”
- To look/seem… → Avoir l’air + adj. (She looks tired. → Elle a l’air fatiguée.)
- To feel like… → Avoir envie de… (I feel like sleeping. → J’ai envie de dormir.)
- To hurt… → Avoir mal à… (I have a headache. → J’ai mal à la tête.)