The French Verb "Être" ('to Be') in Every Compound Tense

The very irregular French verb être ("to be") is among the most frequently used and, therefore, most valuable verbs in the French language. You will find some form of it on every printed page, in every lesson and on the tip of every tongue.

The simple tenses form the basis of most communication in everyday French, not only used by themselves as the equivalent of "to be," but also as auxiliary verbs for the compound forms of many French verbs.

The verb être also has its own compound tenses, which are likewise commonly used in spoken and written French. Both the irregular simple tenses and the irregular compound tenses of this verb also appear in many of the most common idiomatic expressions in the French language. Below are all of the compound tenses in which the verb être appears.

Compound Conjugations of the Irregular French Verb 'Être'