In French, almost everything you want to say will involve one of two verbs: être (to be) and avoir (to have). They are the backbone of the language. While you already know personal pronouns, pairing them correctly with these verbs is the first major step toward forming real sentences. Both are irregular, so their conjugations don't follow the standard patterns and must be memorized.

As in English, être describes who or what something is. It's used for your identity, nationality, profession, and adjectives that describe a permanent or temporary state.

Because être is irregular, each pronoun gets its own unique verb form. Let's look at the present tense conjugation.

Notice the agreement. If the subject is nous, the verb must be sommes. There are no exceptions.

• Je suis américain. (I am American.)
• Elle est médecin. (She is a doctor.)
• Nous sommes fatigués. (We are tired.)

The pronoun on is a versatile and common word in spoken French. While it literally translates to "one," it's most often used to mean "we" in a more casual way than nous.

The verb avoir means "to have" and is just as vital. It's used for possessions, relationships, and—crucially—for many expressions where English speakers would use "to be."

Like être, avoir is completely irregular.

Pay close attention to pronunciation. When a word ending in a consonant is followed by a word starting with a vowel, the sounds often link together. This is called a liaison and it's essential for sounding natural. For example, nous avons sounds like "noo zavon," not "noo avon."

The most important difference to learn is how French handles age and physical sensations. English uses "to be" for these, but French uses avoir.

To ask someone's age, you say:

• Quel âge as-tu? (How old are you?)

To state your age, you say:

• J'ai 30 ans. (I am 30 years old. Literally: "I have 30 years.")

This pattern applies to many common feelings.

Thinking in terms of "having" hunger or "having" thirst is a mental switch you have to make. It's one of the first clear signs that direct translation isn't always possible.

Getting these two verbs right is a massive step. Practice them until they become second nature.