etre vs. avoir l'air

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

etre vs. avoir l'air

The first time I did this exercise, I wrote "Je vais etre beau et elegant !" Then, I changed it to: "Je vais avoir l'air beau et elegant !", which was marked wrong. Wouldn't the use of the phrase, "avoir l'air" also be correct in this situation?

Merci beaucoup et bonne continuation !

Asked 1 week ago
CélineKwiziq Native French TeacherCorrect answer

Bonjour N,

It is not wrong to use "avoir l'air" here (as it is not grammatically incorrect). However, this particular sentence comes with a hint (" "to look" = Use "être" in French") so as to avoid this particular scenario. Therefore, the answer with "avoir l'air" will be marked as wrong in this exercise.

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

CélineKwiziq Native French TeacherCorrect answer

Bonjour Anne,

Regarding "avoir l'air / être + [adjectif]", you're correct that there is a difference:

"avoir l'air + [adjectif]" means "to look like / to seem". It is used for a more temporary state:

Hélène a l'air embarrassée = Hélène looks embarrassed
Les enfants ont l'air de bien s'amuser = The kids seem to be having a good time

"être + [adjectif]" is used to describe a more definite/factual state and expresses a more permanent state:

Cet élève est très intelligent = This student is very intelligent
Le ciel est bleu The sky is blue
Je vais être élégant avec ce costume = I am going to look smart with this suit

So, looking at the examples/explanation above, using "avoir l'air" in that sentence (although not grammatically incorrect) does not fit with referring to a more permanent/factual state that is implied in the sentence. 

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Can it be that you misspelled élégant?

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Does Céline’s reply mean that there isn’t a distinction between being elegant and looking elegant in French, or just that you wouldn’t use être for the former? I’d have thought there was quite a big  difference in meaning - one is an objective state of being and the other a superficial appearance.

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Merci, Celine,

I sometimes miss the hints, as was the case here. (I'll have to remind myself to check more carefully for the hints!) 

I wanted to use "avoir l'air" as it seemed to convey not just the meaning but also the mood of the speaker a bit better than the use of "etre".

To answer Chris's comment - In this case, I didn't misspell "elegant". The term "avoir l'air" was crossed out and corrected with "etre". But,thanks for asking!

Anne - I believe that Celine is pointing out that my answer was marked wrong because I didn't use the hint. However, it is correct under normal usage to say "avoir l'air" to indicate how one looks.

Merci a tous ! Et, Bonne Continuation !

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Celine,

Thank you for your very clear explanation of the difference between the use of "etre" and "avoir l'air".

I understand your point and it is well taken. It actually reinforces my reason for preferring "avoir l'air" over "etre" in this case for two reasons: 

1) The phrase used in English is "I'm going to look very handsome and elegant" rather than "I'm going to be very handsome and elegant." 

2) The speaker is referring to a specific, yet temporary occasion - wearing the suit at his sister's wedding - and not a permanent or factual state, such as his intelligence or the color of his eyes. Donning the suit is what gives him that appearance. (We can infer from the story that a fancy suit is not his everyday attire.) Once he takes off the suit and puts on his regular clothes, he would no longer "look handsome and elegant", but his appearance would rather be more suited for everyday activities. Walking his dog, going for a jog, meeting friends for a drink at the corner cafe, etc. come to mind. 

For some, such as the royal family, a celebrity, or a highly successful businessperson who often wear fancy outfits, being handsome and elegant may be a more permanent state, in which case you could use etre. 

"La Reine Catherine est toujours belle et elegante" = "Queen Catherine is always   beautiful and elegant."

Bonne journee,

N. Hilary

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W. asked:

etre vs. avoir l'air

The first time I did this exercise, I wrote "Je vais etre beau et elegant !" Then, I changed it to: "Je vais avoir l'air beau et elegant !", which was marked wrong. Wouldn't the use of the phrase, "avoir l'air" also be correct in this situation?

Merci beaucoup et bonne continuation !

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