être (présent)
Irregular Verb Etre (To Be)
être (to be) is a highly irregular verb in the present tense. It is the most frequent verb in French, used for describing people, things, and locations.
How It Works
The verb être is the foundation of French communication. It serves several critical roles:
- Identity and Description: Used to state who someone is or describe them.
Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.) - Location: Used to say where someone or something is.
Elle est à la maison. (She is at home.) - States and Conditions: Used for temporary or permanent traits.
Nous sommes fatigués. (We are tired.)
Phonological Notes:
1. Liaison: In vous êtes, the 's' is pronounced as a /z/ sound (/vu.zɛt/). This is mandatory.
2. Elision: The word ce becomes c' before est (C'est).
3. Casual Speech: In informal spoken French, je suis is often shortened to a sound like 'chuis'.
Important Distinction: Unlike English, French does not use être for age or hunger; those use avoir.
Examples (6)
- Je suis français.
I am French.
Word by Word: I am French.
Uses 'suis' for the first-person singular 'je'.
- Tu es très gentil.
You are very kind.
Word by Word: You are very kind.
Uses 'es' for the informal second-person singular 'tu'.
- Il est à Paris aujourd'hui.
He is in Paris today.
Word by Word: He is at Paris today.
Uses 'est' to indicate location.
- Nous sommes prêts pour le départ.
We are ready for the departure.
Word by Word: We are ready for the departure.
Uses 'sommes' for the first-person plural 'nous'.
- Vous êtes en retard.
You are late.
Word by Word: You are in delay.
Note the mandatory liaison between 'vous' and 'êtes'.
- Elles sont très intelligentes.
They are very intelligent.
Word by Word: They are very intelligent.
Uses 'sont' for the third-person plural feminine 'elles'.
Common Mistakes
Using être for age instead of avoir.
Je suis vingt ans.J'ai vingt ans.In French, you 'have' years, you are not 'being' years. Use 'avoir' for age.
Regularizing the 'vous' form ending.
Vous étez ici.Vous êtes ici.Learners often try to add the standard '-ez' ending. 'Être' is irregular and ends in '-es' for 'vous'.
Confusing 'ils sont' (they are) with 'ils ont' (they have).
Ils ont fatigués.Ils sont fatigués.Listen for the /s/ sound in 'sont' to distinguish it from 'ont'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the conjugation of the irregular verb 'être', you must first be familiar with the French subject pronouns (je, tu, il/elle, etc.) that dictate which verb form to use.
- tuFamiliar Second Person Tu
Understanding the second-person singular subject pronoun is necessary to conjugate the second form of the verb 'être' (tu es).
Level 1 - il / elleThird-person Singular Il and Elle
Understanding the third-person singular subject pronouns is necessary to conjugate the third form of the verb 'être' (il/elle est).
Level 1
Related Patterns
- avoir (présent)Irregular Verb Avoir (To Have)
The other most important irregular verb, often confused with être for sensations and age.
Level 1 - c'est / il est / elle estIdentifying with C'est Versus Describing with Il/elle Est
Explains when to use 'c'est' versus 'il est' when identifying or describing people.
Level 1 - Linking a silent consonant to the next vowel
Crucial for the correct pronunciation of 'vous êtes' and 'ils sont'.
Level 1 - être + Past ParticipleCompound Past with Etre
Être serves as the auxiliary verb for certain verbs in the past tense.
Level 2 - jeFirst-person Singular Je
The subject pronouns are necessary to conjugate and use être correctly.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- plus...queComparative of SuperiorityLevel 1
- il est + TimeTelling Time with Il EstLevel 1
- où (interrogatif)Where with OuLevel 1
- qui (interrogatif)Who with QuiLevel 1
- Irregular future stemsLevel 2
- le (pronom neutre)Le Standing for a Whole IdeaLevel 3
- être (subjonctif)Irregular Subjunctive of EtreLevel 3
- Emotion requires the subjunctiveLevel 3
And 4 more in the full list.
Words in This Pattern
Practice être (présent) in Bubblegum
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