The "Big Four": Mastering Être, Avoir, Aller, and Faire

If you only mastered four verbs in French, these should be them. Être (to be), Avoir (to have), Aller (to go), and Faire (to do/make) appear in almost every sentence. They are also crucial because they act as auxiliary verbs for compound tenses like the Passé Composé and Plus-que-parfait.

In this guide, we will break down their irregular conjugations and their unique idiomatic uses in the context of the TEF/TCF exams.

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1. Être (To Be): The Verb of Identity

Être is used to describe states of being, professions, nationalities, and characteristics.

Conjugation:

• Je suis
• Tu es
• Il / Elle / On est
• Nous sommes
• Vous êtes
• Ils / Elles sont

Key Uses in Exams:

• Identifying yourself: “Je suis candidat pour le TCF Canada.”
• Describing a situation: “C'est une opportunité incroyable.”
• Passive Voice: “La décision a été prise.”

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2. Avoir (To Have): Much More Than Ownership

Avoir is used for possession, but it is also used for age and many physical sensations where English uses "to be."

Conjugation:

• J'ai (Elision!)
• Tu as
• Il / Elle / On a
• Nous avons
• Vous avez
• Ils / Elles ont

idiomatic Pitfalls (Common Errors):

• Age: “J'ai trente ans.” (Not "Je suis").
• Hunger/Thirst: “J'ai faim / J'ai soif.”
• Fear: “J'ai peur.”
• The Phrase "Il y a": “Il y a beaucoup de monde.” (There are many people).

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3. Aller (To Go): Movement and the Future

Aller is essential for physical movement and used to form the Futur Proche (Near Future).

Conjugation:

• Je vais
• Tu vas
• Il / Elle / On va
• Nous allons
• Vous allez
• Ils / Elles vont

Strategic Use in Oral Exams:

If you forget the complex future endings, use Aller + Infinitive.

• “Je vais déménager au Canada l'année prochaine.” (I am going to move...). This is perfectly acceptable and sounds very natural at a B1/B2 level.

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4. Faire (To Do / To Make): The Swiss Army Knife

Faire is used for activities, weather, and a vast array of idiomatic expressions.

Conjugation:

• Je fais
• Tu fais
• Il / Elle / On fait
• Nous faisons (Note: "ai" is pronounced like a "schwa" sound).
• Vous faites (Common mistake: "faisiez" is for imparfait, faites is present).
• Ils / Elles font

Essential Expressions for TEF Section A/B:

• Faire attention: To pay attention.
• Faire les courses: To go grocery shopping.
• Faire une promenade: To take a walk.
• Weather: “Il fait beau” (It's nice out) / “Il fait froid.”

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5. The Auxiliary Power: Preparing for the Passé Composé

You cannot form the past tense without these verbs.

• Avoir is the auxiliary for 95% of verbs: “J'ai mangé.”
• Être is the auxiliary for "DR MRS VANDERTRAMP" verbs and reflexive verbs: “Je suis allé.”

Exam Tip: In the TCF Task 2 or TEF Section A (Narrating an event), you will use these auxiliaries constantly. If your conjugation of Avoir or Être is wrong, your entire past tense sentence is wrong.

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6. Pro-Level Pronunciation: The "Liaison" and "S" sound

Pay close attention to the difference between:

• Ils ont (They have): Pronounced with a "Z" sound liaison (eel-zon).
• Ils sont (They are): Pronounced with a "S" sound (eel-son). Confusing these two can change your whole story!

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7. Mastery through PrepMyFrench

AI Speaking Simulator:

In the Expression Orale, our AI specifically tracks your usage of these "Big Four." Are you using "Je suis" for age? (Penalty!). Are you using "Je vais" to talk about your plans? (Bonus for naturalness!).

Practice Drills:

In our Writing Practice, try writing a 150-word introduction about yourself. Force yourself to use each of these four verbs at least twice.

• “Je suis journaliste. J'ai dix ans d'expérience. Je vais souvent au bureau. Je fais mon travail avec passion.” Our AI will verify that your irregular conjugations are flawless.

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Conclusion

Mastering Être, Avoir, Aller, and Faire is like having the four aces in a deck of cards. With these, you can survive almost any conversation. Take the time to drill these conjugations until they are as automatic as breathing.

Next Topic: Ready to say "No"? Learn about Negation (Ne... pas).

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