eu
The English word 'had' is translated into French. The default form is eu.
eu is the past participle of the verb avoir (to have). It is used to form compound tenses, such as the passé composé.
Which one should you use?
While eu is the past participle, the imperfect tense avait is often used to translate 'had' when describing a continuous state or background in the past.
How does it change in a sentence?
eu is the past participle of the verb avoir and is used to form compound tenses like the passé composé.
Did you know?
- In French, avoir is used to express feelings that English describes with 'to be', so j'ai eu peur literally means 'I had fear' rather than 'I was afraid'.
- The word eu actually comes from the same root as the English word 'habit'. They both trace back to the Latin word 'habitus', which referred to how one 'has' or 'holds' something.
- In certain expressions, eu is used to describe physical sensations, such as avoir eu chaud, which translates to 'having had heat' instead of 'being hot'.
Examples in context
- Il a eu un AVC.He had a stroke.This sentence is useful for showing how to use eu to describe a medical event.Tatoeba #13271800 by lbdx, translation #2266301 by _undertoad
- J’ai eu un chat.I had a cat.This sentence is useful for using eu to describe past possession.Tatoeba #2231134 by Amastan, translation #2399176 by amazighgirl
- J'ai eu à faire.I had business to take care of.This sentence is useful for using eu to express having tasks to perform.Tatoeba #2429965 by sacredceltic, translation #2331649 by CK
- Elle a eu beaucoup de chance.She had a lot of luck.
- J'ai eu une soirée fantastique hier.I had an amazing evening yesterday.
- Ils ont eu une opportunité incroyable.They had an incredible opportunity.
- 1092 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are talking about their day.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu as eu le temps de lire ?Did you have time to read?
- NathanNon, j'ai eu une journée très longue.No, I had a very long day.
- EmmaC'est dommage, j'ai eu un livre pour toi.That's a pity, I had a book for you.
- NathanMerci, Emma, je le lirai demain.Thanks, Emma, I will read it tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
