Nous sommes and Nous avons?? FRENCH!

stef.strawbs.123

How do you know when to use Nous sommes and nous avons in role play?

I have my french speaking exam tomorrow and Im not sure when to use which! thanks :smile:

Reply 1

265697

depends if you are using avoir or etre.xx

Reply 2

Special_K

learn the mrs vandrtramp verbs, they're all etre

and reflexive verbs are always etre xx

Reply 3

Tasha-x

11

Nous sommes = we are
Nous avons = we have

If you are referring to using them in the past tense, then you just have to learn which verbs take avoir, and which take etre, i'm afraid.

All reflexive verbs (i.e. 'se laver ---> je me suis lavée) take etre.
Aller, sortir, descendre, montre, venir, arriver, entrer, partir, naitre, mourir, tomber, rester, and retourner are the other verbs that use etre in the past tense.

So, for example, 'venir' in the past tense is 'je suis venu(e)' or 'nous sommes venus'

Whereas a verb like 'manger', which is an 'avoir' verb, would be 'j'ai mangé' or 'nous avons mangé'

Hope that helps! Good luck for you exam!

Reply 4

olivia717

nous avons is used with most verbs and nous sommes is used with ...i think there are about 14 irregular verbs. If you look up on google etre verbs, you should get a list of them.
Good luck in your french exam

Reply 5

stef.strawbs.123

OP

2

Tasha-x

Nous sommes = we are
Nous avons = we have

If you are referring to using them in the past tense, then you just have to learn which verbs take avoir, and which take etre, i'm afraid.

All reflexive verbs (i.e. 'se laver ---> je me suis lavée) take etre.
Aller, sortir, descendre, montre, venir, arriver, entrer, partir, naitre, mourir, tomber, rester, and retourner are the other verbs that use etre in the past tense.

So, for example, 'venir' in the past tense is 'je suis venu(e)' or 'nous sommes venus'

Whereas a verb like 'manger', which is an 'avoir' verb, would be 'j'ai mangé' or 'nous avons mangé'

Hope that helps! Good luck for you exam!