Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
Welcome to today’s French Word of the Day! Let’s clarify the versatile verb “assister.” This word has two distinct meanings depending on how it’s used: it can mean “to help” or “to attend.” Understanding this difference is key for accurate French!
Meaning
Pronunciation with IPA
Example sentences
Present tense conjugation
Meaning
“Assister” is a French verb with two primary meanings:
- When followed by a direct object, it means “to help” (e.g., J’assiste mon ami – I help my friend).
- When followed by the preposition “à,” it means “to attend” or “to witness” (e.g., J’assiste à un concert – I attend a concert).
Pronunciation
Example sentences
This first sentence uses assister à, meaning to attend or “to be present at”. This lesson explains été, which is both summer and the past participle of être (to be).
Je vais assister à un mariage cet été en Allemagne.
I’m going to attend a marriage this summer in Germany.
This second sentence uses the for assister + direct object, meaning to help or to assist.
La petite fille assiste sa maman dans la cuisine.
The little girl helps her mom in the kitchen.
Another meaning of assister à is to witness or to see. Although the noun ville (city) is feminine, the noun centre-ville (downtown) is masculine.
Les jeunes étudiants ont assisté à un crime au centre-ville.
The young students witnessed a crime downtown.
Present tense conjugation
Assister is a regular ER verb, meaning that it has the same conjugation pattern as parler (to speak).
J’assiste I help
Tu assistes You help (singular, informal)
Il, elle assiste He, she helps
Nous assistons We help
Vous assistez You help (plural, formal)
Ils, elles assistent They help
Related verbs
- Constater: (to note, to observe, to ascertain)
- Aider: (to help, to aid)
- Secourir: (to rescue, to help out in an emergency)
- Soutenir: (to support, to uphold)
- Participer à: (to participate in, to take part in)
Reference
