Expressing how you are with aller (Greetings in French)

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In French, you can use the verb aller to express how you are.

Using aller for greetings in French

Look at these sentences with aller:

Comment va Paul? - Il ne va pas très bien ces jours-ci.How is Paul? - He's not feeling very well these days.

Comment ça va? - Ça va bien, et toi?How are you / How do you feel? - I'm fine/I feel fine, and you?

Je vais malI feel bad

Comment vont tes enfants? - Ils vont mieux, merciHow are your children? - They feel better, thank you

In French, you can use the verb aller (to go) to make general statements about how you feel/are. 

You can use it to express to feel/be fine, bad, better.

ATTENTION:

When you want to express specific statements with adjectives I am sick/ tired/happy - you cannot use aller.
You'll use être (to be) instead:

Comment vas-tu, Bertrand ? - Je suis malade aujourd'hui.How are you, Bertrand? - I'm sick today.

Comment ça va Samantha ? - Je suis fatiguée.How are you Samantha? - I'm tired.

See also "Sentir bon" vs "Se sentir bien" - The different meanings of the verb "sentir" in French

 

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Examples and resources

Comment ça va? - Ça va bien, et toi?How are you / How do you feel? - I'm fine/I feel fine, and you?
Comment va Paul? - Il ne va pas très bien ces jours-ci.How is Paul? - He's not feeling very well these days.
Comment vont tes enfants? - Ils vont mieux, merciHow are your children? - They feel better, thank you
Je vais malI feel bad

examples with être


Comment ça va Samantha ? - Je suis fatiguée.How are you Samantha? - I'm tired.
Comment vas-tu, Bertrand ? - Je suis malade aujourd'hui.How are you, Bertrand? - I'm sick today.
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