1.11: Avoir

Avoir (to have) is a very useful verb and is used whenever we would say ‘have’ in English. It expresses the possession.

Avoir is an irregular verb, which means that it doesn’t follow the same pattern as regular ‎verbs in the present tense.‎

Be careful with the pronunciation of this verb. Avoir involves liaisons, such as:

• nous avons ☞ /nous-z-avons/
• vous avez ☞ /vous-z-avez/
• ils ont ☞ /ils-z-ont/
• elles ont ☞ /elles-z-ont/

The indefinite article un, une, des, becomes de at the negative form.

☞ J’ai un livre. I have a book.

☞ Je n’ai pas de livre. I do not have any books.

Practice