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1 · Six forms, with the subject
Je becomes j’ before ai. A name such as Léa takes a; two names together take ont.
| j’ai | I have |
| tu as | you have |
| il / elle / on a | he / she has; we have with on |
| nous avons | we have |
| vous avez | you have, polite or plural |
| ils / elles ont | they have |
Léa et Sami ont deux enfants.Léa and Sami have two children.
2 · Age uses avoir
Use the number followed by ans. The verb agrees with the person whose age you give.
Ma sœur a trente ans.My sister is thirty.
Tu as quel âge ?How old are you?
3 · Keep the whole expression
These French expressions use avoir even when English uses “be”.
| avoir faim | to be hungry |
| avoir soif | to be thirsty |
| avoir froid | to feel cold |
| avoir sommeil | to be sleepy |
Nous avons faim.We are hungry.
4 · Negatives and spelling
Put n’ before a vowel and pas after the verb. In an ordinary negative, un or des becomes de; a specific le stays.
Je n’ai pas de stylo.I haven’t got a pen.
Je n’ai pas le numéro.I haven’t got the number.
Elle a un cours à midi.She has a class at midday.