I know this lesson is about the plus que parfait but to say "had to", can you also use the passé composé? For example, he had to leave before 5. "Il a dû partir à 5 heures.
There had to be - passé composé?
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helen w.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
There had to be - passé composé?
This question relates to:French lesson "Conjugate devoir in the pluperfect tense in French (Le Plus-que-Parfait)"
Asked 2 years ago
Bonjour Helen,
Il a dû partir à 5 heures = he had to leave at 5 o'clock
Il avait dû partir à 5 heures = He'd [had] had to leave at 5 o'clock
-> Conjugate devoir in the pluperfect tense in French (Le Plus-que-Parfait)
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
The sentence “He had to leave” is past tense. Past perfect would be “He had had to leave.”
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