Meaning and Usage
The verb faire is one of the most common and versatile verbs in French, meaning to do or to make. It is used in many expressions and contexts, from describing actions or activities to forming idiomatic phrases. Because of its importance, mastering faire is essential for everyday French communication.
Irregular Conjugation
Faire is an irregular verb, so its conjugation does not follow typical patterns. It is conjugated differently across various tenses and moods, which makes learning its forms very useful as they often appear frequently in spoken and written French.
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense of faire is widely used for current actions or general truths related to doing or making something. Below is a detailed conjugation table with examples:
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | fais | I do / I make | Je fais mes devoirs. | I do my homework. |
| tu | fais | you do / you make | Tu fais la cuisine ce soir. | You make dinner tonight. |
| il/elle/on | fait | he/she/one does/makes | Elle fait du sport tous les jours. | She does sports every day. |
| nous | faisons | we do / we make | Nous faisons une fête demain. | We are having a party tomorrow. |
| vous | faites | you (formal/plural) do/make | Vous faites beaucoup de bruit. | You make a lot of noise. |
| ils/elles | font | they do / they make | Ils font leurs courses samedi. | They do their shopping on Saturday. |
Common Expressions with Faire
Faire is part of many idiomatic expressions that are essential to everyday French. Some examples include:
- faire attention – to pay attention
- faire la cuisine – to cook
- faire les courses – to do the shopping
- faire du sport – to exercise or play sports
- faire froid – to be cold (weather expression)
Understanding these expressions expands your ability to use faire practically and naturally.
Past Tense Use
In compound past tenses like the passé composé, faire uses avoir as its auxiliary verb:
- J'ai fait mes devoirs. (I did my homework.)
This pattern applies to other compound forms and should be memorized.
Summary
Faire is an irregular and highly functional French verb with diverse uses, from simple actions to idiomatic phrases. Mastery of its conjugations and common phrases will significantly enhance your French language skills.
