French grammar
Avoir beau + infinitif : il aura beau insister / j'ai beau essayer
Stand your ground with avoir beau + infinitive.
From the scene Il aura beau insister (However much he insists)
In short
Avoir beau + infinitive = however much, and nothing changes. Avoir takes the tense: j'ai beau essayer, il aura beau insister.
Your turn
Which one goes with he can promise the moon, but…?
Options: j'ai beau essayer · il aura beau promettre la lune · il aura beau insister
Show answer
he can promise the moon, but… → il aura beau promettre la lune
How it works
Avoir beau + infinitive means "however much / no matter how much": the effort changes nothing.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Ce monsieur aura beau (blank), personne ne me fera quitter mon appartement.
Options: insister · insiste · insisté
Show answer
Ce monsieur aura beau insister, personne ne me fera quitter mon appartement.
However much that man insists, nobody is getting me out of my flat.
Good to know
Put avoir in the tense you mean and leave the infinitive alone: il aura beau insister (future: whatever he tries, it won't work), j'ai beau essayer (present: I really am trying, and still…).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Ce monsieur (blank) beau parler, le dernier mot sera pour moi.
Options: ait · aura · sera
Show answer
Ce monsieur aura beau parler, le dernier mot sera pour moi.
However much that man talks, the last word will be mine.
Good to know
The clause with avoir beau comes first; the second clause gives the result that doesn't change.
however much he (may) insist il aura beau insister
he can promise the moon, but… il aura beau promettre la lune
Elena
Il aura beau promettre la lune, il ne me convaincra pas.
He can promise the moon, he won't convince me.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), il ne me convaincra pas.
Options: Il aura beau promettre la lune · Il aura beau insister · J'ai beau essayer
Show answer
Elena
Il aura beau promettre la lune, il ne me convaincra pas.
He can promise the moon, he won't convince me.
as hard as I (really) try j'ai beau essayer
Javi
Ça, c'était la semaine dernière. J'ai beau essayer, ce micro ne marche pas.
That was last week. As hard as I try, this mic just won't work.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ça, c'était la semaine dernière. (blank), ce micro ne marche pas.
Options: Il aura beau promettre la lune · J'ai beau essayer · Il aura beau insister
Show answer
Javi
Ça, c'était la semaine dernière. J'ai beau essayer, ce micro ne marche pas.
That was last week. As hard as I try, this mic just won't work.
however much he (may) talk il aura beau parler
Your turn
What goes with il aura beau parler?
Options: he can promise the moon, but… · however much he (may) talk · however much he (may) insist
Show answer
il aura beau parler → however much he (may) talk
Common mistake
Not suis or aie here. Je (Javi): he really is trying, right now.
Ça, c'était la semaine dernière. J'ai beau essayer, ce micro ne marche pas.
That was last week. As hard as I try, this mic just won't work.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| however much he (may) insist | il aura beau insister |
|---|---|
| he can promise the moon, but… | il aura beau promettre la lune |
| as hard as I (really) try | j'ai beau essayer |
| however much he (may) talk | il aura beau parler |
More lines from the story
- ElenaCe monsieur aura beau insister, personne ne me fera quitter mon appartement.However much that man insists, nobody is getting me out of my flat.
- ElenaCe monsieur aura beau parler, le dernier mot sera pour moi.However much that man talks, the last word will be mine.
- NuriaIl paraît qu'il apporte des promesses : de l'argent, des travaux... et un ascenseur !They say he's bringing promises: money, renovations... and a lift!
- ElenaNon, mon grand. C'est une promesse. Et moi, je tiens les miennes.No, dear. It's a promise. And I keep mine.