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←A1 - Tappa 3 · Family and home

The verb avere

Learn the first grammar system for Tappa 3.

Avere in the present

The present forms of avere are ho, hai, ha, abbiamo, avete, and hanno. The letter h is silent, but it distinguishes these verb forms from other short words.

Use avere for age, possession, hunger, thirst, heat, cold, and many descriptions with hair or eyes.

  • Io ho trent’anni.· I am thirty years old.
  • Tu hai una sorella.· You have a sister.
  • Luca ha gli occhi azzurri.· Luca has blue eyes.
  • Noi abbiamo una casa.· We have a house.

Form and use

Compare the forms in the second set. Identify what changes, what stays fixed, and what meaning the change creates.

  • Voi avete fame?· Are you hungry?
  • I bambini hanno sonno.· The children are sleepy.
  • Non ho fratelli.· I do not have brothers.
  • Quanti anni ha sua madre?· How old is your mother? (formal)

In context

The words of this lesson in sentences from other A1 lessons.