To Be
Être means "to be" in many senses that this verb is used in English.
1. It is used with adjectives, nouns, and adverbs to describe a temporary or permanent state of being:
- Il est beau - He is handsome
Je suis à Paris - I'm in Paris
Nous sommes français - We're French
Il est là-bas - He's over there
2. Être is used to describe someone's profession; however, note that the indefinite article is not used in this construction in French:
- Mon père est avocat - My father is a lawyer
Je suis étudiant - I'm a student
3. Expressions with être
Notes
There are a number of English "to be" expressions which are translated in French by avoir (to have):
- avoir froid - to be cold
avoir raison - to be right
avoir xx ans - to be xx years old
more expressions
When talking about the weather, French uses the verb faire (to do/make) rather than être:
- Quel temps fait-il ? - How's the weather?
Il fait beau - It's nice out
Il fait du vent - It's windy
Être as an Auxiliary Verb
1. Être is the auxiliary for some verbs in the compound tenses:
- Je suis allé en France - I went to France
Nous étions déjà sortis - We had already left
Il serait venu si... - He would have come if...
2. Être is used to form the passive voice:
- La voiture est lavée - The car is washed
Il est respecté de tout le monde - He is respected by everyone
Conjugations
Present tense
- je suis
tu es
il est
nous sommes
vous êtes
ils sont
