PRESENT TENSE OF AVOIR AND ETRE:

avoir = to have

AFFIRMATIVE INTERROGATIVE

I have, I do have, have I? do I have?
I am having

j'ai nous avons ai-je? avons-nous?
tu as vous avez as-tu? avez-vous?
il a ils ont a-t-il? ont-ils?
elle a elles ont a-t-elle? ont-elles?
on a a-t-on?

être = to be

AFFIRMATIVE INTERROGATIVE

je suis nous sommes suis-je? sommes-nous?
tu es vous êtes es-tu? êtes-vous?
il est ils sont est-il? sont-ils?
elle est elles sont est-elle? sont-elles?
on est est-on?

NOTE: 1. The forms "est-ce que j'ai?" and "est-ce que je suis?" are more frequently used than "ai-je?" and "suis-je?"
2. The negative and negative interrogative of "avoir" and "être" are formed in the same manner as regular verbs.

NEGATIVE NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE

il n'a pas n'a-t-il pas?
nous ne sommes pas ne sommes-nous pas?

3. Special use of "avoir:"
il y a = there is, there are (both singular and plural!)
y-a-t-il? = is there? are there?
il n'y a pas = there isn't, there aren't
n'y a-t-il pas? = isn't there? aren't there?

Bon! That's it for now. Let me know any questions you have but no more reviews until you meet something new! Bonne chance! (good luck)

Don't let the "terminology" frighten you. they are merely "labels." When talking about verbs, most teachers and/or textbooks talk about first, second, third person(s.)

first person = the one MOST important to you! = je (singular) and nous (plural)

second person = the one you talk TO. tu (familiar singular) and vous (familiar plural as well as formal singular and plural)

third person = the one you talk ABOUT. il, elle, on (singular) and ils, elles (plural)

Mme

Is this sentence correct?

She has 3 male cousins and 4 female cousins.

Elle a trois cousins et quatre cousines.

PARFAIT! (perfect) Chic alors! (Great) Bon travail! (Good job!)

Mme

Thank you for providing a detailed explanation of the present tense conjugations of the French verbs "avoir" and "être." Your explanation covers both the affirmative and interrogative forms, as well as the negative and negative interrogative forms. You also mention the special use of "avoir" in expressions such as "il y a." Additionally, you provide a helpful explanation of the terminology used for first, second, and third person subjects in relation to verb conjugations. Overall, your explanation is clear and informative. Thank you for your help!

The present tense of the verbs "avoir" (to have) and "être" (to be) are as follows:

Avoir:
- Affirmative:
- Je (I) - j'ai
- Tu (You) - tu as
- Il/Elle/On (He/She/One) - il/elle/on a
- Nous (We) - nous avons
- Vous (You - plural/formal) - vous avez
- Ils/Elles (They - masculine/feminine) - ils/elles ont

- Interrogative:
- Est-ce que j'ai? (Am I having/do I have?)
- As-tu? (Do you have?)
- A-t-il/elle/on? (Does he/she/one have?)
- Avons-nous? (Do we have?)
- Avez-vous? (Do you have?)
- Ont-ils/elles? (Do they have?)

Être:
- Affirmative:
- Je suis (I am)
- Tu es (You are)
- Il/Elle/On est (He/She/One is)
- Nous sommes (We are)
- Vous êtes (You are)
- Ils/Elles sont (They are)

- Interrogative:
- Suis-je? (Am I?)
- Es-tu? (Are you?)
- Est-il/elle/on? (Is he/she/one?)
- Sommes-nous? (Are we?)
- Êtes-vous? (Are you?)
- Sont-ils/elles? (Are they?)

To form the negative and negative interrogative forms of "avoir" and "être," you simply add "ne" before the verb and "pas" after the verb:

Negative:
- Il n'a pas (He does not have)
- Nous ne sommes pas (We are not)

Negative interrogative:
- N'a-t-il pas? (Doesn't he have?)
- Ne sommes-nous pas? (Aren't we?)

Some special uses of "avoir" include:
- "Il y a" which means "there is" or "there are"
- "Y-a-t-il?" which means "is there?" or "are there?"
- "Il n'y a pas" which means "there isn't" or "there aren't"
- "N'y a-t-il pas?" which means "isn't there?" or "aren't there?"

Remember that the different forms (je, tu, il/elle/on, nous, vous, ils/elles) refer to the subject of the sentence - the person or thing performing the action of the verb. The terminology used (first person, second person, third person) is just a way to categorize these different forms.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.