14 Most Common French Verbs And How To Use Them

Navigating your way to French fluency requires more than just learning basic conversational phrases, but also learning how to go around the merry-go-round of French conjugations. At first, they can seem nauseating but as long as you stick for the ride with an open mind it all gets better.

French verbs are used in everyday conversations. Just think about what you want, what he wants, what she wants, what they want, and what we all want. All that requires learning how to use the verb to want in English or vouloir in French.

So if you want to improve your French, let's master some of the most used French verbs. And then you can then say what you really really want en français.

1. Être – to be

• Je suis (I am) — Je suis triste. (I am sad.)
• Tu es (You are) — Tu es ennuyeux. (You are boring.)
• Il est / Elle est (He is / She is) — Il est stupide. (He is stupid.)
• Nous sommes (We are) — Nous sommes des jardiniers. (We are gardeners.)
• Vous êtes (You are) — Vous êtes les nouveaux magiciens. (You are the new magicians.)
• Ils sont / Elles sont (They are) — Ils ne sont pas mignons. (They are not cute.)

2. Avoir – to have

• J’ai (I have) — J'ai un chien. (I have a dog.)
• Tu as (You have) — Tu as un chat. (You have a cat.)
• Il a / Elle a (He has / She has) — Elle a un film préféré. (She has a favorite movie.)
• Nous avons (We have) — Nous avons cinq couvertures. (We have five blankets.)
• Vous avez (You have) — Vous avez des voitures sympas. (You have cool cars.)
• Ils ont / Elles ont (They have) — Ils ont une bibliothèque. (They have a library.)

3. Faire – to do, to make

• Je fais (I do) — Je fais mes devoirs de maths. (I am doing my math homework.)
• Tu fais (You do) — Tu fais la vaisselle. (You are doing the dishes.)
• Il fait / Elle fait (He does / She does) — Il fait son lit. (He is making his bed.)
• Nous faisons (We do) — Nous faisons des gâteaux. (We make cakes.)
• Vous faites (You do) — Vous faites cinq cartes d'anniversaire. (You are making five birthday cards.)
• Ils font / Elles font (They do) — Ils me font acheter des glaces. (They are making me buy the ice cream.)

4. Aller – to go

• Je vais (I go) — Je vais au magasin. (I am going to the shop.)
• Tu vas (You go) — Tu vas courir et la récupérer. (You go run and get her back.)
• Il va / Elle va (He goes / She goes) — Elle va à l'aéroport. (She is going to the airport.)
• Nous allons (We go) — Nous allons préparer le dîner. (We are going to cook dinner.)
• Vous allez (You go) — Vous allez sonner la cloche. (You are going to ring the bell.)
• Ils vont / Elles vont (They go) — Ils vont lui parler. (They are going to talk to him.)