How and when to use avoir beau
Could you also explain how To use avoir beau
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deeplaxmi p.Kwiziq community member
Could you also explain how To use avoir beau
This question relates to:French lesson "Après avoir fait = After doing in French (auxiliary avoir)"
Asked 5 years ago
Hi Deeplaxmi,
The expression 'avoir beau faire' is a beautiful one to use.
It means -
Whatever you do..., try as you may...,
Here are a few examples of its usage -
On a beau tout le temps le corriger, il continue à faire la même erreur = No matter how many times we correct him he continues to make the same mistake
Vous aurez beau faire, vous n'y arriverez pas = Try as you may, you won't be able to do it
On a beau dire, la vie est agréable sur cette île = Whatever you/people think/say, life is very pleasant on this island.
I hope these examples will enable you to use it in speech.
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Do you main faire beau, as in Il fait beau aujourd'hui -- It's nice weather today? I don't know about avoir beau.
Alan G. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
"avoir beau faire" means, roughly, to do something in vain. There's a good explanation here:
https://french.yabla.com/lesson-Avoir-Beau-946
There's a well-known Jacques Brel song, Le Prochain Amour that starts:
On a beau faire, on a beau dire
Qu'un homme averti en vaut deux
On a beau faire, on a beau dire
Ça fait du bien d'être amoureux
I'm not entirely sure what the question is. If you're asking how to combine that with "après avoir fait", I suppose you can just say "après avoir beau faire".
chris w.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
In case anyone is struggling with the Brel lyric as I was, here is a translation from t'internet:
Whatever we do, even if the saying goes
'Forewarned is forearmed' ( An experienced [wary]man is worth two)
Whatever we do, whatever we say,
It feels good to be in love.
chris w.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
In case anyone is struggling with the Brel lyric as I was, here is a translation from t'internet:
Whatever we do, even if the saying goes
'Forewarned is forearmed' ( An experienced [wary]man is worth two)
Whatever we do, whatever we say,
It feels good to be in love.
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