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How to use 'avoir l'habitude de' in French
Look at these examples in different tenses:
Leur goût est horrible mais j'ai l'habitude de prendre mes médicaments maintenant.It tastes horrible but I'm used to taking my medicine now.
(Lit: their taste is horrible)
(Lit: their taste is horrible)
J'ai l'habitude de prendre le bus numéro 12 le matin.I (usually) take the no. 12 bus in the morning.
I tend to take the no. 12 bus in the morning.
I tend to take the no. 12 bus in the morning.
Note that to express or emphasise a habit in French, we use avoir l'habitude de (literally: to have the habit of).
A habit in the present
In the present tense, j'ai l'habitude de would translate as I tend to, I'm used to or just by using the Simple Present in English (e.g. I wake up at 6 every morning.)
A habit in the past
In the past tense, j'avais l'habitude de would translate as I used to, or just by using the Simple Past in English (e.g. I woke up at 5 every morning.)
Note that for the past, avoir is conjugated in l'Imparfait, NOT Le Passé Composé, as it expresses a repeated action in the past.
You can also use d'habitude which means and is used the same way as usually in English.
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Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
We went and saw our grandmother on Sundays.
past tense
He climbed trees when he was small.
present tense
I tend to take the no. 12 bus in the morning.
(Lit: their taste is horrible)
