Usage note : have

When used as an auxiliary in present perfect, future perfect and past perfect tenses, have is normally translated by avoir :

I have seen

= j’ai vu

I had seen

= j’avais vu

However, some verbs in French, especially verbs of movement and change of state (e.g. aller, venir, descendre, mourir), take être rather than avoir in these tenses :

he has left

= il est parti

In this case, remember the past participle agrees with the subject of the verb :

she has gone

= elle est allée

Reflexive verbs (e.g. se lever, se coucher) always conjugate with être :

she has fainted

= elle s’est évanouie

For translations of time expressions using for or since (he has been in London for six months, he has been in London since June), see the entries for and since.

For translations of time expressions using just (I have just finished my essay, he has just gone), see the entry just1.

to have to meaning must is translated by either devoir or the impersonal construction il faut que + subjunctive :

I have to leave now

= il faut que je parte maintenant or je dois partir maintenant

In negative sentences, not to have to is generally translated by ne pas être obligé de e.g.

you don’t have to go

= tu n’es pas obligé d’y aller

For examples and particular usages see the entry have.

When have is used as a straightforward transitive verb meaning possess, have (or have got) can generally be translated by avoir, e.g.

I have (got) a car

= j’ai une voiture

she has a good memory

= elle a une bonne mémoire

they have (got) problems

= ils ont des problèmes

For examples and particular usages see entry ; see also got.

have is also used with certain noun objects where the whole expression is equivalent to a verb :

to have dinner = to dine

to have a try = to try

to have a walk = to walk

In such cases the phrase is very often translated by the equivalent verb in French (dîner, essayer, se promener). For translations consult the appropriate noun entry (dinner, try, walk).

had is used in English at the beginning of a clause to replace an expression with if. Such expressions are generally translated by si + past perfect tense, e.g.

had I taken the train, this would never have happened

= si j’avais pris le train, ce ne serait jamais arrivé

had there been a fire, we would all have been killed

= s’il y avait eu un incendie, nous serions tous morts

For examples of the above and all other uses of have see the entry.

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.