This key facts covers The Critical Distinctions within Present tense: the big four (être, avoir, aller, faire) for GCSE French. Revise Present tense: the big four (être, avoir, aller, faire) in The 25 Core Verbs and the Present Tense for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 The Critical Distinctions
- être vs avoir for physical states — être = personality/identity (il est froid = he is an unfriendly person); avoir = sensation (j'ai froid = I feel cold). Confusing these changes the meaning entirely.
- Age always uses avoir — j'ai quinze ans. Never je suis quinze ans. The word ans (years) is always needed.
- aller + infinitif ≠ être en train de — je vais manger = I am going to eat (future); je suis en train de manger = I am (in the process of) eating (right now)
- faire du / de la / de l' — the article changes with gender: faire du football (masc.), faire de la natation (fem.), faire de l'athlétisme (vowel)
- vous faites — the vous form of faire is irregular: faites, not faisez (a very common error)
Practice questions for Present tense: the big four (être, avoir, aller, faire)
Which form of 'être' correctly completes this sentence? 'Nous ___ français.'
What does 'j'ai quinze ans' mean in English?
Quick recall flashcards
aller
to go — the only -er verb that is completely irregular. Also used to form the near future tense (je vais + infinitive).
How is 'être' used with nationalities?
je suis + nationality (no article, lowercase): je suis anglais(e) = I am English. il est français = he is French. elle est galloise = she is Welsh. The nationality adjective agrees with gender.