Être conjugation: present tense

Être in the present tense

• je suis: I am
• tu es: you are (informal)
• il est: he is / it is
• elle est: she is / it is
• nous sommes: we are
• vous êtes: you are (formal or plural)
• ils sont / elles sont: they are

Tips for using être

• The s of es and the st of est are silent, so tu es and il est end with the same sound.
• Ils is "they" for men or mixed groups. Elles is "they" for groups of women only.

Example sentences

• Je suis fatigué. / Je suis fatiguée. I'm tired. Adjectives agree with the person: add -e for a woman, -s for plural.
• Elle est étudiante. She is a student. With être and a job or role, French drops the word for "a".
• Tu es content ? Are you happy? In speech, raise your voice at the end to make a question.
• Nous sommes fatigués. We are tired.

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