The French verb être means “to be.” It is one of the most important and irregular verbs in the French language. Être is used to describe identity, state, existence, and more. It also functions as an auxiliary verb for forming the passé composé of many verbs.
Present Indicative
The present indicative is the most common form of être and is used to express "am/is/are," describe states or identities, and form the present simple tense.
| Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | suis | I am |
| tu | es | you are |
| il/elle/on | est | he/she/one is |
| nous | sommes | we are |
| vous | êtes | you are (formal/plural) |
| ils/elles | sont | they are |
Examples
- Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.)
- Tu es en retard. (You are late.)
- Nous sommes heureux. (We are happy.)
They are students.
Ils sont étudiants.
The third-person plural present indicative form of être is sont. The correct sentence is 'Ils sont étudiants.'
Passé Composé (Perfect Tense)
The passé composé of être is formed with the auxiliary verb avoir followed by the past participle été. This tense expresses “was/were” or “have been.”
| Pronoun | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| je | j’ai été | I have been |
| tu | tu as été | you have been |
| il/elle/on | il/elle/on a été | he/she/one has been |
| nous | nous avons été | we have been |
| vous | vous avez été | you have been |
| ils/elles | ils/elles ont été | they have been |
Examples
- J’ai été malade. (I have been sick.)
- Nous avons été en France. (We have been to France.)
Future Simple
The future simple is used to express “will be.” The stem is ser-, and the endings are added as usual for -re verbs.
| Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | serai | I will be |
| tu | seras | you will be |
| il/elle/on | sera | he/she/one will be |
| nous | serons | we will be |
| vous | serez | you will be |
| ils/elles | seront | they will be |
Examples
- Je serai en vacances. (I will be on vacation.)
- Elles seront contentes. (They will be happy.)
We will be ready.
Nous serons prêts.
First-person plural future simple is serons (ser- + -ons). The correct sentence is 'Nous serons prêts.'
Conclusion
Être is a foundational verb in French that means “to be.” It is irregular in many tenses and is essential for expressing identity, states of being, and existence. Additionally, être is used as an auxiliary verb for the passé composé of certain motion and reflexive verbs, making it even more crucial to master.
Flashcards (1 of 18)
- Pronoun: je
- English Conjugation: I am
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
