Beginner grammar

Etre and avoir hold French together.

If you are starting French, these two verbs deserve extra attention because they express identity, possession, condition, and many compound verb forms.

Why etre matters

Etre means "to be." You use it to describe identity, location, condition, nationality, and everyday states.

Why avoir matters

Avoir means "to have." It is used for possession, age, needs, and many common French expressions.

Practice goal

Use the conjugation tool to compare the present forms of etre and avoir, then write five simple sentences with each verb.