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Avoir: to have (and to be hungry, 20 years old)

J'ai, tu as, il a, nous avons, vous avez, ils ont. French uses avoir for age and some feelings: j'ai faim.

Age: J'ai vingt ans "I am twenty".

Feelings: avoir faim (hungry), avoir soif (thirsty), avoir peur (afraid).

Avoir is also the helper verb of the past: j'ai mangé "I ate".

Pattern: subject + avoir + noun

Practice this lesson

Updated October 21, 2026

Examples

• J'ai deux frères.
  I have two brothers.
• Il a froid.
  He is cold.

In real sentences

• Je ne les ai pas.
  I don't have them.
  Tatoeba: Amastan
• Y en a plus ?
  Is there any left?
  Tatoeba: menaud
• Il a bien fait.
  He did right.
  Tatoeba: Nyans
• Qui a fait ça ?
  Who did this?
  Tatoeba: MartinShadock
• Elle a fait ça.
  She has done this.
  Tatoeba: THURET
• On a fait ça.
  We did that.
  Tatoeba: Aiji

Before this lesson

This unlocks after: A1 Actions 1, Être: to be.

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