Expressing how you are with aller (Greetings in French)

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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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Je vais malI feel bad
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

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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