Basic Verbs and Conjugations:
Être, Avoir, Aimer, Dire, Aller, and Prendre

Goal: To introduce conjugations and "The Six Must-Know Verbs"

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What are Conjugations?

If you feel that you already know enough about conjugations, click here.

Conjugations are the forms of verbs that follow nouns or subject pronouns. Not clear enough? Let's look at some conjugations in action.

I am learning from this page.
Mary and Ben are learning from this page.
He is learning from this page.

All of these sentences have the verb "to be" in them. Depending on the subject of the sentence, different conjugations of "to be" are used.

We think French is fun.
She thinks French is fun.
You think French is fun.

All of these sentences contain conjugations of the verb "to think." Depending on the subject, different conjugations are used.

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Basic Verbs and their Conjugations

In every language, there are certain "must-know" words. Some "must know" French verbs are:

Être: To Be

Être: Reviewing the Examples

Tu es à l'école le lundi. = You are at school on Monday.
Je suis dans ma chambre. = I am in my room.
Ils sont petit(e)s! = They are small!

A final example:

Je suis un agneau = I am a lamb.

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Avoir: To Have

Avoir: Reviewing the Examples

Il a un petit chien. = He has a little dog.
Nous avons une soeur et deux frères. = We have one sister and two brothers.
Vous avez le français le matin. = You have French (class) in the morning.

A final example:

As-tu un agneau = Do you have a lamb?

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Aimer: To Like

Aimer: Reviewing the Examples

J'aime les chats, toi? = I like cats, do you?
Elle aime faire du vélo. = She likes to ride bikes.
Elles aiment aller en France. = They like to go to France.

A final example:

Nous aimons les fermes. = We like farms.

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Dire: To Say

Dire: Reviewing the Examples

Je dis que je pense. = I say what I think.
Il dit, «Salut!» = He says, "Hi!"
Nous disons, «Qui-est ce?» = We say, "Who is it?"

A final example:

On dit, «Ah! Un agneau!» = Someone says, "Oh! A lamb!"

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Aller: To Go

Aller: Reviewing the Examples

Tu vas à la banque. = You go to the bank.
Vous allez nager en été? = Are you going to swim in summer?
Ils vont à Paris l'année prochaîne. = They go to Paris next year.

A final example:

Allez à ma ferme! = Go to my farm!

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Prendre: To Take

Prendre: Reviewing the Examples

Tu prends du café au lait? = You take coffee with milk?
Je prends une salade, s'il vous plaît. = I'll take a salad, please.
Elles prennent de la confiture. = They take jam.

A final example:

Prenez-vous de l'herbe = Do you take grass?

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(Do you know these verbs? Click here to find out!)