Salut Mes Beaux Amis,
The verb of the day is Avoir. I am not an expert in the French language, but I believe in the power of group learning. I am presenting various aspects of this verb to the best of my knowledge, and I welcome each one of you to read and provide your insight to the same. I have divided the post into these main sections:
- Pronunciation Link
- Meaning of this Verb
- Conjugation of the verb in different tenses and moods
- Let's write a little French with this verb
- Commonly used phrases with this verb
- Proverb with this verb
- Appearance of this verb in any song or textbook
Pronunciation Link
I have a link to the YouTube video of the pronunciation of "Avoir." Click here to know how to pronounce this very useful verb.
Meaning of the Verb
This verb means "have." We all know the importance of this verb. Each conversation, today, starts with people narrating a long list of the things that they "have." So, I thought let's start with this it. However, I forgot the complications that I would face in framing sentences in a variety of tenses using it. To add to the problems, it falls under the category of irregular verbs. One may rightly say that I did not think it through!
Conjugation of this verb in various tenses and moods
1. Indicatif – Generally, Indicatif is used to state facts.
- Présent – It is similar to Present tense of English. We use this form to express facts, conditions, habits, and routine.
J’ai
(Subject) has/haveTu as Il a Nous avons Vous avez Ils ont
- Passé Composé – It resonates with Present Perfect and Past forms of English language. This form is utilized to a talk about the actions that were completed in the past, and we wish to draw the attention towards its results.
I went to get a manicure in the morning.
He did not go to the office today.
I did not have the courage at that moment.
J’ai eu (Subject) had (once), I have had, I got Tu as eu Il a eu Nous avons eu Vous avez eu Ils ont eu
- Imparfait – Imparfait form is used to write about description, habit, and actions that occurred simultaneously in the past.
It was a beautiful day.
He was having a rough day.
I used to ride a bicycle in the rain.
J’avais (Subject) had/ was having/ used to have/ would have (always)/had (previously) Tu avais Il avait Nous avions Vous aviez Ils avaient
- Plus-que-parfait – This is the French version of “Past perfect” of English language. If you are narrating an incident that occurred in the past, and I you wish to include a detail that happened even before the time of that incident, you use plus-que-parfait form.
I had studied a lot before I could get a job.
He had practiced his speech in front of the mirror before he went in front of a huge audience.
J’avais eu (Subject) had had Tu avais eu Il avait eu Nous avions eu Vous aviez eu Ils avaient eu
- Passé simple – Similar to Passé Composé, Passé simple is used to describe completed actions in the past and the actions that were interrupted in the past. Being same as Passé Composé, its examples are similar to Passé Composé.
Last year, I went to Bali.
While I was in Bali, I admired nature for hours.
J’eus (Subject) had Tu eus Il eut Nous eûmes Vous eûtes Ils eurent
- Passé antérieur – This is same as Past Perfect of English language. This form is mostly used in literature.
As soon as I was in the library, I decided to issue the book “Pride and Prejudice.”
After my grandfather had worked for sixty years, he started gardening.
J’eus eu (Subject) had Tu eus eu Il eut eu Nous eûmes eu Vous eûtes eu Ils eurent eu
- Futur – Futur is same as Future tense of English language. This form comes into picture when we are either expressing an intended action in the future or making an assumption in both present and future. Also, it may be used to make a polite request.
Tomorrow, I will write a song.
You will never write a song.
Would Irine help me with the song?
If you ask her, you will know.
J’aurai (Subject) will have Tu auras Il aura Nous aurons Vous aurez Ils auront
- Futur antérieur – Remember future perfect tense? Futur antérieur is its brother :) When you are imagining or considering something to happen in the future or something that might have happened in the past, you use this form.
He'll probably have had three boxes of cereal or he had drank three cartons of milk. (I know it's a stupid sentence, but I couldn't think of something else.)
By the time we'll reach, they will have hidden the evidence. (Crime investigation drama kicking in!)
J’aurai eu (Subject) will have/ will have had Tu auras eu Il aura eu Nous aurons eu Vous aurez eu Ils auront eu
- Future proche – Future Proche form is used to describe an event or action that is either definite to occur in a short while or planned to happen in the future.
I am going to get a laptop in two minutes. (I'm not :( )
My sister is getting ready in a minute.
Je vais avoir (Subject) is/are/am having/about to have something) Tu vas avoir Il va avoir Nous allons avoir Vous allez avoir Ils vont avoir
- Conditionnel – This mood is used to express statements of possibility and condition.
- Présent – If we wish to express a possibility about present or future from a past point of view, then this would be my choice of sentence form.
I would like to be an author, someday.
Drashti thought that she might go on a vacation to Paris.
If she went to Paris, she could become a model.
Arun, could you stop teasing me?
- Présent – If we wish to express a possibility about present or future from a past point of view, then this would be my choice of sentence form.
J’aurais (Subject) would have Tu aurais Il aurait Nous aurions Vous auriez Ils auraient
- Passé – Imagine that you are telling about an incident that happened in the past, where you expressed a possibility, then this is the form you need to be using. Of course, it is confusing, but don't worry. Hopefully, sample sentences will help in making it understandable.
If I had gone with you, I would have scolded him.
My grandfather would have sorted our problems if we had asked him.
*Tip – Use Conditionnel Passé in that part of the sentence that indicates a result of the action.
J’aurais eu (Subject) would had/ would have Tu aurais eu Il aurait eu Nous aurions eu Vous auriez eu Ils auraient eu
- Passé - forme alternative – This form is used in literary formats of writing. Not my cup of tea! The same thought can be expressed by using above form.
J’eusse eu (Subject) would had/ would have Tu eusses eu Il eût eu Nous eussions eu Vous eussiez eu Ils eussent eu
- Subjonctif – This mood of expressions focuses on various emotions, such as doubt, a fear, subjectivity, hope.
- Présent – If the main part of the sentence is in present form, then the part after que, expressing emotions, will be in subjonctif présent form. Confused? Well, hopefully, sample sentences will clear the air.
It is important to me that my family eats dinner together.
I am happy that my readers like my blog.
- Présent – If the main part of the sentence is in present form, then the part after que, expressing emotions, will be in subjonctif présent form. Confused? Well, hopefully, sample sentences will clear the air.
que j’aie that (Subject) has/ have que tu aies qu’il ait que nous ayons que vous ayez qu’ils aient
- Imparfait –If the main part of the sentence is in past form, then the part after que, expressing emotions, will be in subjonctif imparfait form. However, this form is used in literary docs. For ordinary usage, subjonctif passé is our guy.
que j’ eusse that (Subject) had or that (Subject) was having que tu eusses qu’il eût que nous eussions que vous eussiez qu’ils eussent
- Plus-que-parfait – Again, this form is also used in literary documents.
que j’ eusse eu (Subject) would have/ had que tu eusses eu qu’il eût eu que nous eussions eu que vous eussiez eu qu’ils eussent eu
- Passé – If main part of the sentence is in past form, then the part after que, expressing emotions, will be in subjonctif passé form. Other than this, if we are expressing emotions about somebody's past, then too, we use this form.
He is afraid that he received love from everybody only for his money.
que j’aie that (Subject) had or that (Subject) was having que tu aies qu’il ait que nous ayons que vous ayez qu’ils aient
- Impératif – This mood is utilized to give orders.
- Présent – There is nothing to explain here. This form is utilized in giving orders.
Take me to the mall!
Drive me to the airport!
Sit with me!
Don't talk to me!
- Présent – There is nothing to explain here. This form is utilized in giving orders.
aie Have ayons Let's have ayez Have
Let's Write a little French with this Verb
After a lot of editing, rewriting, thinking, canceling, manipulating, and head-scratching, I have come up with a passage using "have" that we would be translating in French. This passage may be the silliest passage you have ever seen, but eh! Let's hope it solves the purpose.
I have a friend. His name is Kabir. He is 25-year-old. He does not live in the same city as me. This morning, he called me. The conversation that we had, goes like this. Kabir did not have a pen to write. When he was a kid, he used to have many pens. When he started working, he stopped buying pens. I was bored of his pen's story, so I asked him to change the subject. Then he changed the subject to his health problems. Before calling me, he'd had a headache. He is afraid that he does not have a medicine. He would have had the pen and medicines if he had bought them. I told him,"Have the medicine and buy the pen!" He would have had the medicine now.
J'ai un friend. Il s'appelle Kabir. Il a vingt-cinq ans. Il ne vit pas dans la même ville que moi. Ce matin Il m'a appelé. La conversation que nous avions est comme ça. Kabir n'a pas eu un stylo pour écrire. Quand il était un enfant, il avait beaucoup de stylos. Quand il a commencé à travailler, il a cessé d'acheter les stylos. J’était ennuyé avec son histoire de stylo, donc je lui ai demandé de changer de sujet. Puis il a changé de sujet en passant à ses problèmes de santé. Il avait eu un mal de tête avant de m’appeler. Il a eu peur qu’il n’y ait pas de médicament. Il aurait eu le stylo et les médicaments, s’il les avait achetés. Je lui dit,“ Aies le médicament et achètes le stylo!" Maintenant, Il a le médicament.
Two of my favorite phrases are:
Aie confiance
Crois en moi
Que je puisse
Veiller sur toi ...
- Attention, on va descendre
Fais un somme
Sans méfiance
Je suis làààà
Aie confiance
Le silence propice te berce
Souris et sois complice
Laisse tes sens glisser vers ces delices tentatrices
- Tu dors petit ?
- Oui !
P.S. My dearest friend, Francine, extended her help in reviewing this post. I appreciate the time that she I am blessed to have her in my life. Thanks, Francine!
Sources: http://ouicestca.com/, http://french.about.com/, https://francais.lingolia.co
J'ai un friend. Il s'appelle Kabir. Il a vingt-cinq ans. Il ne vit pas dans la même ville que moi. Ce matin Il m'a appelé. La conversation que nous avions est comme ça. Kabir n'a pas eu un stylo pour écrire. Quand il était un enfant, il avait beaucoup de stylos. Quand il a commencé à travailler, il a cessé d'acheter les stylos. J’était ennuyé avec son histoire de stylo, donc je lui ai demandé de changer de sujet. Puis il a changé de sujet en passant à ses problèmes de santé. Il avait eu un mal de tête avant de m’appeler. Il a eu peur qu’il n’y ait pas de médicament. Il aurait eu le stylo et les médicaments, s’il les avait achetés. Je lui dit,“ Aies le médicament et achètes le stylo!" Maintenant, Il a le médicament.
Commonly used phrases with this verb
Two of my favorite phrases are:
- en avoir marre -- be fed up
- y avoir -- be wrong
Proverbs using this verb
avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre -- It is an equivalent to the English saying of "have one's cake and eat it too."
Appearance of this verb in any song or famous textbook
You must check out this song from "The Junglebook," click here for the lyrics and the video of the song.. I have posted the same lyrics here,Aie confiance
Crois en moi
Que je puisse
Veiller sur toi ...
- Attention, on va descendre
Fais un somme
Sans méfiance
Je suis làààà
Aie confiance
Le silence propice te berce
Souris et sois complice
Laisse tes sens glisser vers ces delices tentatrices
- Tu dors petit ?
- Oui !
P.S. My dearest friend, Francine, extended her help in reviewing this post. I appreciate the time that she I am blessed to have her in my life. Thanks, Francine!
Sources: http://ouicestca.com/, http://french.about.com/, https://francais.lingolia.co
Thanks Ankita for the detailed explanation of a new word. Looking forward to another one tomorrow.
ReplyDeletehttp://meotherwise.com/2016/04/01/arc-lights-and-puppets/
I'm glad that you found the explanation fruitful. If you think addition or removal of something would help you learn better, feel free to post here. Stay blessed <3
Deletesure enough will learn french.. cartoons are super cute.
ReplyDeleteI am delighted to have you on-board. Learning is fun with a group. Let me share a little secret with you, these cartoons were a last minute addition. I wasn't -- and still, am not -- sure, whether I would be able to create these cartoons throughout the challenge; however, I decided to take a chance. Now I am happy that I did :)
DeleteTres bien Mademoiselle! I am so happy relearning and also in fact learning some things for the first time. Looking forward to more...
ReplyDelete@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
Thanks a lot for your kind words! Hoping to keep the posts worth your time.
DeleteWow your cartoons are amazing - great touch!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Ellen | http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-is-for-anchor-nancy-drew-investigates.html
Awww thanks Ellen! It takes a lot of time, though. I'll try to keep them in the posts, but let's see for how long :)
DeleteHi, i learned a lot about a simple French word. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to see many readers finding my post helpful. If you have any suggestion or correction, feel free to let me know.
DeleteOMG SUper post ANkita!! I am coming back everyday!
ReplyDeleteTina from The Sunny Side of Life
Thanks a lot, Tina :)
DeleteWow! I will have to remember your blog when I start to learn French. It's on my list!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your words of encouragement, Amy!
DeleteVery informative, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDamyanti, AZ cohost 2016
Thanks, Damyanti! These posts are really helping me, as well.
DeleteI loved the cartoon... makes it more easier to understand I guess. Glad I learned something new today :D
ReplyDeleteVisiting from A to Z Challenge
Pam's Unconventional Alliance Team
A Whimsical Medley
Twinkle Eyed Traveller
I am delighted that I could share my knowledge and learn something new in the process. I added the cartoons to make learning fun,and I guess they have served the purpose :)
DeleteHey Ankita, Brilliantly written. You've made the language technicalities are relatively easier to comprehend. Waiting for you next blogs :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Ankit! Glad to have you on board :)
DeleteBrilliantly written. You've simplified the technical aspect simple to read and comprehend. Kudos to you :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteOmg! I'm going learn French :) you are so cool that you know the language well. I loved the bit strips cos they are a very interactive way to keep readers engaged. Good one.
ReplyDeleteYour enthusiasm is contagious, Parul. Suddenly, I am feeling excited. Power of words, eh?
DeleteThis is a fantastic idea, Ankita. I would love to start learning French again.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the club, Corinne :)
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