être is the French verb for "to be," essential for expressing identity, states, and existence. It is highly irregular and used as both a main verb and an auxiliary in compound tenses.
- French equivalent of "to be": être
- Expresses: identity, characteristics, states, existence
- Irregular verb with unique forms
- Also used as an auxiliary for some verbs in compound tenses
Present Tense: Être as a Core Verb
The present tense of être is fundamental for saying who/what someone is, describing people or things, and stating conditions.
| Subject | Être (Present) | Usage Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | suis | Je suis étudiant. | I am a student. |
| Tu | es | Tu es sympa. | You are nice. |
| Il/Elle | est | Il est médecin. | He is a doctor. |
| Nous | sommes | Nous sommes prêts. | We are ready. |
| Vous | êtes | Vous êtes en retard. | You are late. |
| Ils/Elles | sont | Ils sont amis. | They are friends. |
- Use être to:
- Identify (Je suis Paul)
- Describe (Elle est intelligente)
- Express states/conditions (Nous sommes fatigués)
Exercise: Conjugate être in the present tense and write one sentence for each form about yourself or others.
Past Tense: Être as an Auxiliary (Passé Composé)
Être is used as an auxiliary verb for all reflexive verbs and many motion/verbaux de déplacement in the passé composé. Note that the past participle agrees in gender/number with the subject when être is used.
| Subject | Auxiliary Être + Past Participle | Example (Aller) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je (m/f) | suis allé(e) | Je suis allé(e) | I went (m/f) |
| Tu (m/f) | es allé(e) | Tu es allé(e) | You went (m/f) |
| Il/Elle | est allé(e) | Il est allé, Elle est allée | He/She went |
| Nous (m/f/p) | sommes allé(e)s | Nous sommes allés | We went (m or mixed) |
| Vous (m/f/p) | êtes allé(e)(s) | Vous êtes allé(e)(s) | You went |
| Ils/Elles | sont allés/allées | Ils sont allés, Elles sont allées | They went |
- Main use: Subject + être (conj.) + past participle (with agreement)
- Common verbs with être: aller, venir, arriver, partir, monter, descendre, naître, mourir, etc.
Exercise: Conjugate être as an auxiliary in passé composé with aller and write sentences for "we," "you (pl)," and "they."
Summary
être is a cornerstone of French grammar as the irregular verb for "to be," essential for identification, description, and existence.
- Present: Je suis, tu es, il est... - express who/what someone is and states of being.
- Auxiliary Use: être helps form passé composé for reflexive and most motion verbs, with agreement in the past participle.
Conclusion
Mastering être is vital for basic communication in French, as it conveys essential concepts of identity and existence. Its dual role—as both a main verb and an auxiliary—makes it indispensable across all levels of language learning.
- Être means "to be" and is used for identity, description, and states.
- It is irregular and must be memorized in all forms.
- Être is also an auxiliary verb for certain verbs in the passé composé, requiring agreement of the past participle.