Mastering the French Verb "Être" in the Present Tense

Mastering the French Verb "Être" in the Present Tense

Level: DELF A0

Introduction

The verb "être" (to be) is one of the most essential verbs in the French language. It is used to describe people, emotions, locations, professions, and more. In this guide, you will learn how to use "être" in the présent de l'indicatif, with practical examples and exercises to help reinforce your learning.

Les Pronoms Personnels Sujets (Subject Pronouns)

Subject pronouns are used to indicate who is performing the action of the verb. In French, they are:

French	English
Je	I
Tu	You (informal/singular)
Il	He/It
Elle	She/It
On	One/We (informal)
Nous	We
Vous	You (formal or plural)
Ils	They (masculine or mixed)
Elles	They (feminine)

Note: "On" is often used in everyday conversation to mean "we," even though it literally means "one."

2. The Verb "Être" (To Be) in Present Indicative

The verb "être" is irregular, meaning it doesn't follow standard conjugation patterns. Here is how to conjugate it:

Subject Pronoun	Être Conjugation	English Translation
Je	suis	I am
Tu	es	You are
Il/Elle/On	est	He/She/One is
Nous	sommes	We are
Vous	êtes	You are
Ils/Elles	sont	They are

3. How to Use "Être" in Sentences

To describe states or conditions:

• Je suis fatigué. (I am tired.)

To introduce oneself or others:

• Elle est Marie. (She is Marie.)

To indicate location:

• Nous sommes à Paris. (We are in Paris.)

In compound tenses as an auxiliary verb:

• Il est allé au marché. (He went to the market.)

4. Example Sentences

• Tu es gentil. (You are kind.)
• Ils sont à l'école. (They are at school.)
• On est prêts. (We are ready.)

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Describing People or Things

Physical Descriptions:

• Je suis grand. (I am tall.)
• Elle est blonde. (She is blonde.)
• Ils sont jeunes. (They are young.)

Personality Traits:

• Tu es intelligent. (You are smart.)
• Nous sommes gentils. (We are kind.)
• Vous êtes drôles. (You are funny.)

Object Descriptions:

• La maison est grande. (The house is big.)
• Les fleurs sont belles. (The flowers are beautiful.)

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Indicating Professions or Roles

• Il est médecin. (He is a doctor.)
• Elle est étudiante. (She is a student.)
• Nous sommes chefs. (We are chefs.)

Note: In French, you usually don't use an article (un/une) before professions when using "être".

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Expressing Locations

• Je suis à la maison. (I am at home.)
• Où êtes-vous ? (Where are you?)
• Ils sont au cinéma. (They are at the cinema.)

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Talking About Conditions or Emotions

• Je suis heureux. (I am happy.)
• Elle est fatiguée. (She is tired.)
• Nous sommes malades. (We are sick.)

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Telling the Time

• Il est deux heures. (It is two o'clock.)
• Quelle heure est-il ? (What time is it?)

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Expressing Possession with "À"

• Ce livre est à moi. (This book is mine.)
• La voiture est à mon frère. (The car belongs to my brother.)

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Forming the Passive Voice

• Le gâteau est fait par Marie. (The cake is made by Marie.)
• Les devoirs sont terminés. (The homework is finished.)

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Using "Être" as an Auxiliary Verb in the Passé Composé

For verbs of movement and reflexive verbs, "être" is used as an auxiliary in the passé composé:

• Je suis allé au marché. (I went to the market.)
• Elle s’est levée tôt. (She got up early.)

When using "être" as an auxiliary, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject:

• Ils sont partis. (They left.)
• Elles sont arrivées. (They arrived.)

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Idiomatic Expressions with "Être"

• Être en retard (To be late)
  Je suis en retard. (I am late.)

• Être en train de (To be in the process of)
  Ils sont en train de manger. (They are eating.)

• Être d'accord (To agree)
  Es-tu d'accord ? (Do you agree?)

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 Using "Être" with Age (But with Caution!)

Unlike in English, "être" is not used to express age. Instead, the verb "avoir" (to have) is used:

• ❌ Je suis 20 ans. (Incorrect)
• ✅ J'ai 20 ans. (I am 20 years old.)

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