How to Say ‘I was / I got’ in French
J'ai eu
zh ay uh
[zh ay uh]
💬 Usage Tip: Literally “I had.” In French, fear is expressed with avoir: avoir peur = “to be afraid.”
🇫🇷 In France: This structure is very French: you “have fear” rather than “are scared.”
Phrase Breakdown
J'
[zh]
I
Shortened form of je before a vowel.
J' ai eu un vrai choc en voyant cette action.
I had a real shock when seeing that play.
ai
[ay]
have
Form of avoir used with je in the passé composé.
J'ai eu peur pendant les dernières secondes.
I was scared during the last seconds.
eu
[uh]
had
Past participle of avoir; with j'ai eu, it means 'I had'.
J'ai eu l'impression que le ballon allait entrer.
I had the impression that the ball was going to go in.
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