Hello, It seems I am there are not many people looking at this topic currently..my question is on conjugation the example of "J'avais dû" where it can

Question

Accepted Answer

Hi Kyombo, 
The expression 'j'avais dû' means I had had to do something but rather the contraction of the first 'had' in English ---> I'd had to ...
In French, we use the verb 'devoir' in the pluperfect for 'to have had to do something.
To use other forms:

Nous avions dû  partir à 4h du matin = We'd had to leave at 4 am
Elle avait dû quitter son travail à 15h = She'd had to leave her work at 3 pm
Ils avaient dû quitter la France en vitesse = They'd had to leave France in a hurry

Hope it helps!

Answer

I'm not getting the "I'd had ... " as "I had had ... "

The English contraction of "I'd" is usually for "I would" not for "I had had ..."

As in "I'd go if I could" --- "I would go if I could" not "I had go if I could"

Does that make sense to English speakers out there?

Answer

Hi C,
Having double-checked the contraction of I'd can be either I had or I would -
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/I%27d