Posted by Aurélie Drouard

In: Level A1, Verbs Tenses & Conjugation, Présent indicatif, Verbes modaux

Questions: 4

The verb "devoir" ('must / have to') is irregular in Le Présent:

Listen to those examples:

Je dois aller au travail.
I must go to work.

Tu dois faire la vaisselle d'abord.
You must do the dishes first.

Elle doit faire ses devoirs.
She must do her homework.

Nous devons nous dépêcher, nous sommes déjà en retard.
We must hurry, we're already late.

Vous devez partir maintenant?
Must you leave now?

Ils doivent économiser de l'argent.
They must save money.

Examples and resources

Ils doivent économiser de l'argent.
They must save money.

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Vous devez partir maintenant?
Must you leave now?

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Tu dois faire la vaisselle d'abord.
You must do the dishes first.

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Je dois aller au travail.
I must go to work.

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Nous devons nous dépêcher, nous sommes déjà en retard.
We must hurry, we're already late.

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Elle doit faire ses devoirs.
She must do her homework.

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William C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Is avoir à a possible alternative to devoir?

Can avoir à ever be used instead of devoir? For example j'ai à vous remercier instead of je dois vous remercier.

Asked 1 year ago

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CécileKwiziq team member

Hi David,

Answered your question in another post.

Like01 year ago

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William asked:View original

Is avoir à a possible alternative to devoir?

Can avoir à ever be used instead of devoir? For example j'ai à vous remercier instead of je dois vous remercier.

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JulieC1Kwiziq community member

How do you choose when to use devoir instead of il faut?

Asked 3 years ago

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AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Julie ! That's a very good question! The fact is that in practice, "devoir" and "il faut" are perfectly interchangeable :) The only nuance would be that "il faut" being an impersonal structure, you would maybe prefer "devoir" to emphasise WHO "must act". Il faut courir. (One/You/We must run.) Il doit courir. (He must run.) I hope that's helpful!

Like63 years ago

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Julie asked:View original

How do you choose when to use devoir instead of il faut?

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