Être (to be) is the single most important verb in French — je suis, tu es, il est form the backbone of everyday sentences. You cannot build sentences, use past tenses, or speak naturally without mastering its conjugation. https://www.frenchlearner.com/verb-conjugations/etre/ Present tense (présent) je suis — I am tu es — you are il, elle est — he, she is nous sommes — we are vous êtes — you are ils, elles sont — they are Past tense (passé composé) j’ai été — I was / I have been tu as été — you w