Avoir (1/2)
French: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 6.2.1
Regular ER Verbs in the Perfect Tense
The perfect tense translates as 'I did something'. To form the perfect tense with 'avoir', use the present tense of 'avoir' with a past participle. For ER verbs, remove the ER and add 'é'. Here is the example for 'parler' (to speak):
J'ai parlé - I spoke
Tu as parlé - you spoke
- 'Tu' means 'you' (singular).
Il/elle a parlé - he/she spoke
Nous avons parlé - we spoke
Vous avez parlé - you (plural) spoke
- 'Vous' means:
- You (plural).
- You (singular, formal).
Ils/elles ont parlé - they spoke
Regular IR Verbs
The perfect tense translates as 'I did something'. To form the perfect tense with 'avoir' in French, use the present tense of 'avoir' with a past participle. For IR verbs you remove IR and add 'i'. Here is the example for 'finir' (to finish):
J'ai fini - I finished
Tu as fini - you finished
- 'Tu' means 'you' (singular).
Il/elle a fini - he/she finished
Nous avons fini - we finished
Vous avez fini - you finished
- 'Vous' means:
- You (plural).
- You (singular, formal).
Ils/elles ont fini - they have finished
Test yourself on Avoir (1/2)
How do you say 'he spoke' in French?
Which one of these is NOT the correct form of 'parler' in the perfect tense?
How do you say 'he finished' in French?
Which one of the following is NOT a correct form of 'finir' in the perfect tense?