Le verbe « avoir »
The verb “to have”
« Vous avez des enfants ? »
“Do you have children ?”
« Oui, j'ai trois enfants! »
“Yes I have 3 children !”
“Avoir” (to have) is used to express possession or ownership.
avoir (have) + an object :
| avoir | To have |
|---|---|
| J'ai | I have |
| Tu as | You have |
| Il a | He has / it has |
| Elle a | She has / it has |
| Nous avons | We have |
| Vous avez | You have |
| Ils ont | They have (masculine) |
| Elles ont | They have (feminine) |
Listen here the pronunciation for avoir :
In French for age and sensations we use “avoir” ( to have) instead of être ( to be) as in English.
avoir + l'âge :
Have + age :
Sarah a 7 ans et Antoine a 3 ans.
Sarah has (is) 7 years (old) and Antoine has (is) 3 years (old.)
avoir + une sensation :
Have + sensation / feeling :
J'ai faim ! Tu as un sandwich ?
I have hungry (I’m hungry)! do you have a sandwich?
Tu as chaud, avec ton manteau.
You have hot with your coat. (You’re hot with your coat).
“A” and “AS” are pronounced as “a” in the word “cat”:
Tu as une voiture.
Il a une voiture.
Elle a une voiture.
Don’t forget the liaison between “nous” (we), “vous” (you), “ils” (they-masculine), “elles” (they-feminine) and the verb to be:
Nous avons
Noo_z_avon
Vous avez
Voo_z_av_a
Ils ont
Eals_z_on
Elles ont
L_z_on