French for Beginners: Lesson 8 – The Verb “Avoir” (To Have)
Welcome to Lesson 8! We’ll focus on the verb “avoir,” which means “to have” in English, a fundamental verb in French.
✚ Objectives:
- Learn the conjugation of “avoir” in the present tense.
- Understand the usage of “avoir” in phrases.
- Practice forming sentences and translating using “avoir.”
1. Conjugation of “Avoir”
Here is the conjugation of “avoir” in the present tense along with pronunciation and English translations:
| Subject | Conjugation | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| j’ | ai | zhay | I have |
| tu | as | too ah | You have |
| il / elle / on | a | eel/ell/on ah | He/She/It has |
| nous | avons | noo zah-vohn | We have |
| vous | avez | voo zah-vay | You have |
| ils / elles | ont | eelz/ellz on | They have |
2. Using “Avoir” with Complements
“Avoir” is often followed by a direct object complement. Here are some examples:
- J’ai une voiture. (I have a car.)
- Il a un chat. (He has a cat.)
- Nous avons un problème. (We have a problem.)
Practice Exercise
Create sentences using “avoir” and a direct object. For example:
- “Tu as un livre.” (You have a book.)
Translation Exercise
Translate these sentences from English to French:
- They have a new house.
- You (formal) have a question.
- She has a beautiful garden.
Conclusion
Congratulations on completing Lesson 8! Understanding “avoir” and its usage is essential in French. Practice regularly to become comfortable with this verb. In our next lesson, we will explore more verbs and their conjugations.