J'ai un livre.
English: I have a book.
- Language
- French
- Level
- A0
- Unit
- Mots outils et verbes essentiels
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
The verb avoir shows possession and relationships. At this level, treat it as a high-frequency helper word, similar to 'have' in English.
When to use it
Use avoir for things people own, features they have, or simple personal information.
Key forms
- j'ai / tu as / nous avons / vous avez / ils/elles ont
- il/elle/on a
- n'ai pas / n'a pas / n'ont pas
Examples
Il a une sœur.
English: He has a sister.
Ils n'ont pas le temps.
English: They do not have time.
Elle a un nouveau téléphone.
English: She has a new phone.
Tips
- Remember a only with il, elle, and on.
- In negatives, use ne ... pas around avoir: je n'ai pas.
- Keep sentence patterns short and repeatable.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some expressions use avoir for age and feelings: j'ai 20 ans (I am 20), j'ai faim (I am hungry).