être/e.te/
verb / noun · A1 · Frequency 6
verb
Meanings
to be, to exist
The most basic French verb, indicating existence or identity.
to be located, to be situated
Used to indicate location or position.
to denote time, day, or date
Used to express concepts related to time.
auxiliary verb
Used to form compound tenses and the passive voice with certain intransitive and reflexive verbs.
Examples
Tout a été calme pendant la réunion.
Everything was calm during the meeting.
Le tableau a été dans cette salle pendant dix ans avant d'être déplacé.
The painting was in this room for ten years before being moved.
La réunion a été mardi matin dans la salle municipale.
The meeting was on Tuesday morning in the town hall.
Les fenêtres ont été nettoyées avant l'ouverture du magasin.
The windows were cleaned before the shop opened.
Collocations
- être en vieto be alive
- être situé àto be located at
- être utilisé comme auxiliaireto be used as an auxiliary verb
Common mistakes
Je est ici.
Je suis ici.
The first-person singular present form of être is suis, not est; the subject je requires suis.
Nous est ici.
Nous sommes ici.
The first-person plural present form of être is sommes, not est; the subject nous requires sommes.
Related words
synonymexisterto exist
antonymne pas êtrenot to be
synonymse trouverto be located
verb
Meanings
to be, to exist
The most basic French verb, indicating existence or identity.
to be located, to be situated
Used to indicate location or position.
to denote time, day, or date
Used to express concepts related to time.
auxiliary verb
Used to form compound tenses and the passive voice with certain intransitive and reflexive verbs.
Examples
Cette règle est importante pour toute l'équipe.
This rule is important for the whole team.
Le laboratoire est au deuxième étage.
The laboratory is on the second floor.
Il est déjà midi.
It is already noon.
Elle est arrivée avant l'ouverture.
She arrived before opening.
Collocations
- être en vieto be alive
- être situé àto be located at
- être utilisé comme auxiliaireto be used as an auxiliary verb
Common mistakes
Je est ici.
Je suis ici.
The first-person singular present form of être is suis, not est; the subject je requires suis.
Nous est ici.
Nous sommes ici.
The first-person plural present form of être is sommes, not est; the subject nous requires sommes.
Related words
synonymexisterto exist
antonymne pas êtrenot to be
synonymse trouverto be located
verb
Meanings
to be, to exist
The most basic French verb, indicating existence or identity.
to be located, to be situated
Used to indicate location or position.
to denote time, day, or date
Used to express concepts related to time.
auxiliary verb
Used to form compound tenses and the passive voice with certain intransitive and reflexive verbs.
Examples
Il est difficile d'être patient dans une situation aussi incertaine.
It is difficult to be patient in such an uncertain situation.
Pour être honnête, je n'ai pas encore lu le rapport.
To be honest, I have not read the report yet.
La bibliothèque semble être au bout de cette rue.
The library seems to be at the end of this street.
Après être arrivé, il a appelé sa famille.
After arriving, he called his family.
Collocations
- être en vieto be alive
- être situé àto be located at
- être utilisé comme auxiliaireto be used as an auxiliary verb
Common mistakes
Je est ici.
Je suis ici.
The first-person singular present form of être is suis, not est; the subject je requires suis.
Nous est ici.
Nous sommes ici.
The first-person plural present form of être is sommes, not est; the subject nous requires sommes.
Related words
synonymexisterto exist
antonymne pas êtrenot to be
synonymse trouverto be located
nounmasculine
Meanings
being, thing, creature
Refers to any existing entity or creature, commonly used in philosophical and everyday contexts.
being, the state or fact of existence
Refers to the state or fact of existence, often used in philosophical discussions.
Examples
Chaque être mérite le respect, quelle que soit son origine.
Every being deserves respect, whatever its origin.
Un être étrange est apparu près de la rivière.
A strange creature appeared near the river.
L'être humain cherche souvent un sens à son existence.
Human beings often seek meaning in their existence.
Collocations
- un être vivanta living being
Related words
synonymexistenceexistence
verb
Meanings
to be, to exist
The most basic French verb, indicating existence or identity.
to be located, to be situated
Used to indicate location or position.
to denote time, day, or date
Used to express concepts related to time.
auxiliary verb
Used to form compound tenses and the passive voice with certain intransitive and reflexive verbs.
Examples
Étant très fatiguée, Clara a quitté la réunion plus tôt.
Being very tired, Clara left the meeting early.
Étant au sommet de la colline, la maison reçoit beaucoup de soleil.
Being situated at the top of the hill, the house gets a lot of sunlight.
Le rendez-vous étant demain, nous devons préparer les documents ce soir.
Since the appointment is tomorrow, we must prepare the documents tonight.
Étant arrivés avant l'ouverture, nous avons attendu devant la porte.
Having arrived before opening time, we waited in front of the door.
Collocations
- être en vieto be alive
- être situé àto be located at
- être utilisé comme auxiliaireto be used as an auxiliary verb
Common mistakes
Je est ici.
Je suis ici.
The first-person singular present form of être is suis, not est; the subject je requires suis.
Nous est ici.
Nous sommes ici.
The first-person plural present form of être is sommes, not est; the subject nous requires sommes.
Related words
synonymexisterto exist
antonymne pas êtrenot to be
synonymse trouverto be located