Devoir is a common French verb that can be used in many different ways. It is often translated as “must” or “should” in English. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways “devoir” can be used in French.
1. Expressing obligation
"Devoir" is often used to express obligation or necessity. For example:
- Je dois partir maintenant. (I must leave now.)
- Tu dois venir avec nous. (You have to come with us.)
- Nous devons être prêts pour demain. (We need to be ready for tomorrow.)
In these examples, "devoir" is used to indicate a sense of obligation or necessity. It is a stronger form of suggestion than "should" in English.
2. Expressing probability
"Devoir" can also be used to express probability. For example:
- Il doit être en retard. (He must be running late.)
- Elle doit être fatiguée après une journée comme ça. (She must be tired after a day like that.)
- Ils doivent être en train de travailler. (They must be working right now.)
In these examples, "devoir" is used to indicate the probability or likelihood of something happening. It is often translated as "must be" in English.
3. Expressing past obligations
"Devoir" can also be used to express past obligations. For example:
- Nous devions être à l'aéroport à sept heures. (We had to be at the airport at seven o'clock.)
- Tu devais étudier pour ton examen. (You had to study for your exam.)
- Ils devaient finir le travail hier soir. (They had to finish the work last night.)
In these examples, "devoir" is used in the past tense to indicate a past obligation or necessity.
4. Expressing future obligations
"Devoir" can also be used to express future obligations. For example:
- Je dois aller chez le médecin demain. (I have to go to the doctor tomorrow.)
- Tu dois rendre votre projet la semaine prochaine. (You have to turn in your project next week.)
- Nous devons acheter des billets pour le concert de la semaine prochaine. (We need to buy tickets for the concert next week.)
In these examples, "devoir" is used to indicate an upcoming obligation or necessity.
5. Expressing polite requests
Finally, "devoir" can be used to make polite requests. For example:
- Vous pourriez devoir m'aider avec ce projet ? (Could you help me with this project?)
- Pourriez-vous devoir me passer le sel, s'il vous plaît ? (Could you pass me the salt, please?)
- Est-ce que vous pourriez devoir fermer la fenêtre ? (Could you close the window?)
In these examples, "devoir" is used to make a polite request or suggestion.In conclusion, “devoir” is a versatile verb in French that can be used in many different ways. Whether expressing obligation or necessity, indicating probability, or making polite requests, “devoir” is an essential verb to know.