ayons

Ayons is a French verbal form derived from the verb avoir, meaning "to have." It functions as the first-person plural form in the present subjunctive, and as the imperative form for the inclusive mood with the pronoun nous. In both uses, ayons belongs to the irregular verb avoir, whose forms vary widely from other verbs.

Etymology and form: Ayons comes from the Latin habere through Old and Middle French developments of avoir. As the present-subjunctive form, it appears in constructions requiring the subjunctive mood after certain expressions of necessity, doubt, wish, or possibility. As the imperative for nous, it is used to issue a directive or exhortation to a group that includes the speaker.

Usage: The subjunctive use often follows phrases like "Il faut que nous ..." or "Je veux que nous ..." Examples include temporal or concessive clauses where uncertainty or subjectivity is intended: "Il faut que nous ayons patience" (We must have patience). The imperative ayons is relatively formal or literary and conveys inclusive action: "Ayons confiance" (Let us have confidence) or "Ayons du courage" (Let us be courageous). In everyday spoken French, speakers more commonly use other constructions, but ayons remains standard in formal writing, religious discourse, speeches, and literary style.

Examples: Ayons confiance. Il faut que nous ayons les ressources nécessaires. Que nous ayons du temps pour réfléchir.

See also: avoir, conjugation of irregular French verbs, French subjunctive mood, French imperative.