French grammar - Must, have to - the verb devoir |
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The verb devoir has several meanings related to obligation, supposition, and expectation. • It can mean 'to have to' or 'must' in the sense of 'obligation' or 'requirement'. -- For example - obligation or requirement: 'I have to go to work.' -- In the negative it means the imperative 'must not' and NOT the optional 'to not have to'. • It can also mean 'to be due to' or 'to be bound to' in the sense of expectation of something happening. -- For example - expectation: 'A new shop is due to open.' • It can also mean 'must' or 'to be probable' as a supposition or guess. -- For example - supposition: 'He must sleeping' or 'He must have fallen asleep.' • With the preposition à the verb devoir à means 'to owe' (a debt for example). It therefore should take an indirect object pronoun. -- For example - obligation: 'I owe him some money' There can in some instances be ambiguity about which of these meanings in intended. Context is required to clear this up. -- Using words like absolument, tout de suite, à tout prix, impérativement, or vraiment can be used to remove ambiguity. The past participle of devoir is irregular ⇒ dû. Note the circumflex accent (accent circonflexe). |
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Je dois manger.
I must eat. |
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J'ai dû manger.
I had to eat. |
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J'ai dû aller à l'école.
I had to go to school. |
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Il doit appeler sa mère.
He has to call his mother. *OR* He must be calling his mother.
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Il doit appeler sa mère tout de suite.
He must call his mother right away.
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Il a dû appeler sa mère.
He had to call his mother. *OR* He must have called his mother.
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Il a dû appeler sa mère impérativement.
He had to call his mother urgently.
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Il a dû le laisser là.
He had to leave it here. *OR* He must have left it there here.
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Il a dû le laisser là. Il a dû l'oublier.
He must have left it here. He must have forgotten it.
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J'ai trouvé l'écharpe d'Angela. Elle a dû l'oublier.
I found Angela's scarf. She must have forgotten it.
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Tu dois être fatigué.
You (familiar) are probably tired.
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Le train doit être en retard.
The train is probably late.
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Dois-tu étudier ce soir ?
Do you (familiar) have to study tonight? |
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Nous devons nous dépêcher, nous sommes déjà en retard.
We have to hurry; we are already late.
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Ils doivent économiser de l'argent.
They have to save money.
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Elle doit être contente.
She must be (is probably) happy. |
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Vous devez absolument être ici à l'heure.
You (formal) absolutely must be here on time.
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Nous devons le faire tout de suite.
We have to do it right away. |
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Nous avons dû le faire tout de suite.
We had to do it right away. |
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Ils doivent le finir tôt demain matin à tout prix.
They have to finish it early tomorrow morning at all costs.
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Elle doit être là à midi.
She has to be here at noon. |
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Elle ne doit pas être là à midi.
She must not be here a noon.
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Tu ne dois pas faire ça !
You (familiar) must not do that! |
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Tu ne dois jamais faire ça !
You (familiar) must never do that! |
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Vous ne devez pas fermer la porte à clé.
You (formal) must not lock the door.
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La nouvelle salle de sport doit bientôt ouvrir.
The new gym is due to open soon.
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Nous avons dû laisser la voiture au parking.
We had to leave the car in the carpark. |
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Combien dois-je à Paul ?
How much do I owe Paul?
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Combien est-ce que je lui dois ?
How much do I owe him? |
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Tu ne lui dois rien !
You (familiar) don't owe him∆her anything! |
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