Être is one of the most important verbs in French. It means “to be” and is used in a variety of ways. Here are some of the most common uses of être.
1. To describe people or things
Être is used to describe people or things. For example:
– Je suis grand. (I am tall.)
– Elle est intelligente. (She is intelligent.)
– Les fleurs sont belles. (The flowers are beautiful.)
2. To talk about professions
Être is also used to talk about professions. For example:
– Je suis professeur. (I am a teacher.)
– Il est médecin. (He is a doctor.)
3. To talk about nationality and origin
Être is used to talk about nationality and origin. For example:
– Je suis français. (I am French.)
– Elle est d’origine italienne. (She is of Italian origin.)
4. To talk about time and dates
Être is used to talk about time and dates. For example:
– Il est dix heures. (It is ten o’clock.)
– Nous sommes le 14 juillet. (It is July 14th.)
5. To talk about feelings and conditions
Être is used to talk about feelings and conditions. For example:
– Je suis content. (I am happy.)
– Il est fatigué. (He is tired.)
– Nous sommes malades. (We are sick.)
6. To form the passive voice
Être is used to form the passive voice in French. For example:
– Le livre est lu par moi. (The book is read by me.)
7. To use in idiomatic expressions
Être is also used in many idiomatic expressions in French. For example:
– être en train de faire quelque chose (to be in the process of doing something)
– être sur le point de faire quelque chose (to be about to do something)
– être à la mode (to be in fashion)
It’s important to note that être is an irregular verb, meaning it doesn’t follow the regular conjugation patterns of most French verbs. Here is the conjugation of être in the present tense:
Je suis
Tu es
Il/elle/on est
Nous sommes
Vous êtes
Ils/elles sont
With these common uses and the present tense conjugation of être, you should be well on your way to using this important verb in your French conversations.