A1 · 초급 챕터 35

Expressing Intentions

5 총 규칙
51 예문
7

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of expressing your intentions using French modal verbs.

  • Conjugate the essential verbs: vouloir, pouvoir, and devoir.
  • Combine modal verbs with infinitives to create fluid sentences.
  • Express your desires, capabilities, and obligations naturally.
Unlock your voice: want, can, and must!

배울 내용

Hey smart language learner! Ready for a big step in French? In this chapter, you're going to learn some magical words that will really help you get going in French. Imagine wanting to say

I want a coffee
or
I want to go to Paris.
How easy will that be! Here, you'll learn how to use three very important French verbs: 'Vouloir' (to want), 'Pouvoir' (to be able to/can), and 'Devoir' (must/to have to). These are like magic tools that give you the power to clearly express your desires, abilities, and things you absolutely must do. For example, you can say
I want to buy this
(J'aimerais acheter ça) or
I can help you
(Je peux t'aider). You can even state your duties, like I must go (Je dois y aller). The cool thing is that after these helper verbs, the main verb always stays in its simple form (infinitive), so you don't need to conjugate the second verb! Super easy, right? Imagine yourself sitting in a cafe in Paris, wanting to order your coffee, or making plans with a French friend and saying
I can come on Thursday.
You'll be able to say all of this! After finishing this chapter, you'll be able to express your wishes, state what you can do, and even confidently bring up things that are important to you. So let's go, French is waiting!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Express personal wants and needs in a cafe or social setting.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: State your abilities and obligations regarding daily tasks.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Hey smart language learner! Ready for a big step in French? In this chapter, you're going to learn some magical words that will really help you get going in French.
This guide is designed to help A1 French learners master fundamental expressions of intention, ability, and obligation. We're diving into essential French grammar that unlocks countless everyday conversations. Imagine wanting to say
I want a coffee
or
I want to go to Paris.
How easy will that be!
Here, you'll learn how to use three very important French verbs: Vouloir (to want), Pouvoir (to be able to/can), and Devoir (must/to have to). These are like magic tools that give you the power to clearly express your desires, abilities, and things you absolutely must do.
Mastering these verbs is a cornerstone of A1 French grammar. They are often called modal verbs or helper verbs because they work with other verbs to add meaning. For example, you can say
I want to buy this
(Je veux acheter ça) or
I can help you
(Je peux t'aider).
You can even state your duties, like I must go (Je dois y aller). The cool thing is that after these helper verbs, the main verb always stays in its simple form (infinitive), so you don't need to conjugate the second verb! Super easy, right?
Imagine yourself sitting in a cafe in Paris, wanting to order your coffee, or making plans with a French friend and saying
I can come on Thursday.
You'll be able to say all of this! After finishing this chapter, you'll be able to express your wishes, state what you can do, and even confidently bring up things that are important to you. So let's go, French is waiting!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter focuses on three incredibly useful French verbs: Vouloir, Pouvoir, and Devoir. These verbs are special because they are usually followed by another verb in its infinitive (unconjugated) form. This makes expressing intentions, abilities, and obligations much simpler, as you only need to conjugate the first verb!
This structure is key to understanding French modal verbs + infinitive.
First up is Vouloir (to want), covered in 'French Verb 'to want': Vouloir in Present Tense'. This verb helps you express desires. Its present tense conjugation is:
* Je veux (I want)
* Tu veux (You want - informal)
* Il/Elle/On veut (He/She/One wants)
* Nous voulons (We want)
* Vous voulez (You want - formal/plural)
* Ils/Elles veulent (They want)
You can use it directly, like Je veux un café (I want a coffee), or with an infinitive, as in 'Expressing Wishes with 'vouloir'': Nous voulons voyager (We want to travel). Notice how voyager (to travel) remains in its base form.
Next, we have Pouvoir (to be able to/can), detailed in 'French Verb 'Can': Pouvoir (Present Tense)'. This verb allows you to talk about possibilities and abilities. Its present tense conjugation is:
* Je peux (I can)
* Tu peux (You can - informal)
* Il/Elle/On peut (He/She/One can)
* Nous pouvons (We can)
* Vous pouvez (You can - formal/plural)
* Ils/Elles peuvent (They can)
For example, Tu peux m'aider ? (Can you help me?) or Ils peuvent venir demain (They can come tomorrow). The verb aider (to help) and venir (to come) are both infinitives here.
Finally, there's Devoir (must/to have to), which you'll learn about in 'The French Verb 'Devoir': Must, Have to, and Owe (Present Tense)'. This verb expresses obligations or necessities. Its present tense conjugation is:
* Je dois (I must/have to)
* Tu dois (You must/have to - informal)
* Il/Elle/On doit (He/She/One must/has to)
* Nous devons (We must/have to)
* Vous devez (You must/have to - formal/plural)
* Ils/Elles doivent (They must/have to)
Use it like Je dois partir (I must leave) or Vous devez étudier (You have to study). Again, partir (to leave) and étudier (to study) stay in their infinitive forms. This consistent 'modal verb + infinitive' structure is a powerful tool in your A1 French toolkit!

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Wrong:
    Je veux mange une pomme.
Correct:
Je veux manger une pomme.
(I want to eat an apple.)
*Explanation:* After vouloir, pouvoir, or devoir, the second verb (the action verb) always remains in its infinitive form. It is never conjugated.
  1. 1Wrong: "J'aime un café." (Meaning: I want a coffee right now.)
Correct:
Je veux un café.
(I want a coffee.) OR
Je voudrais un café.
(I would like a coffee.)
*Explanation:* While aimer means to like or to love, it doesn't express a direct desire or request in the same way vouloir does. Use vouloir for to want. For politeness, at A1, you'll often hear Je voudrais.
  1. 1Wrong: Il peut aller. (Incorrect conjugation of *pouvoir* for Il)
Correct: Il peut aller. (He can go.)
*Explanation:* These verbs (vouloir, pouvoir, devoir) are irregular, so it's crucial to memorize their specific present tense conjugations for each subject pronoun.

Real Conversations

A

A

Bonjour, je veux un croissant, s'il vous plaît. (Hello, I want a croissant, please.)
B

B

D'accord. Vous pouvez payer ici. (Okay. You can pay here.)
A

A

Est-ce que tu peux m'aider avec mes devoirs ? (Can you help me with my homework?)
B

B

Oui, bien sûr ! Je peux t'aider après le dîner. (Yes, of course! I can help you after dinner.)
A

A

Je dois travailler demain. (I have to work tomorrow.)
B

B

Ah, tu ne peux pas venir au cinéma, alors ? (Ah, you can't come to the cinema, then?)

Quick FAQ

Q

What are French modal verbs, and why are they important for A1 French?

French modal verbs are helper verbs like vouloir (to want), pouvoir (to be able to), and devoir (must/to have to) that are followed by an infinitive verb. They're crucial for A1 learners because they allow you to express desires, abilities, and obligations, forming the basis of many everyday sentences.

Q

How do I politely say 'I want' in French, beyond just Je veux?

While Je veux (I want) is direct, for more politeness, especially when ordering or making requests, you can use Je voudrais (I would like), which is the conditional form of vouloir.

Q

Does devoir always mean 'must' or 'to have to'?

In the present tense, devoir primarily means 'must' or 'to have to' when followed by an infinitive, indicating an obligation. It can also mean 'to owe' when referring to money or a debt, but in this chapter, we focus on its use for obligation.

Q

Why is the second verb an infinitive after vouloir, pouvoir, and devoir?

This is a fundamental rule for French modal verbs + infinitive. The first verb (the modal) is conjugated according to the subject, and the second verb (the action verb) remains in its base, unconjugated form, called the infinitive. This simplifies sentence structure significantly.

Cultural Context

These three verbs are incredibly common and essential for daily communication in French. While Je veux is grammatically correct for I want, in many social situations, especially when making requests or ordering, using Je voudrais (the conditional of vouloir, meaning I would like) is considered much more polite. French culture often values politeness in interactions, so adopting Je voudrais early on will serve you well.
Pouvoir and Devoir are used very directly and frequently to discuss plans, capabilities, and responsibilities without much cultural nuance at this A1 level.

주요 예문 (4)

1

Je veux une pizza.

피자 한 판 주세요.

프랑스어 동사 '원하다': 현재 시제의 Vouloir
2

Tu veux sortir ce soir ?

오늘 저녁에 나갈래?

프랑스어 동사 '원하다': 현재 시제의 Vouloir
3

Je peux avoir le code Wi-Fi ?

와이파이 비밀번호 좀 알 수 있을까요?

프랑스어 동사 '할 수 있다': Pouvoir (현재 시제)
4

Tu peux m'envoyer le lien TikTok ?

틱톡 링크 좀 보내줄 수 있어?

프랑스어 동사 '할 수 있다': Pouvoir (현재 시제)

팁과 요령 (4)

⚠️

끝소리는 비밀이에요!

Je veux, Tu veux, Il veut는 끝에 x나 t가 있지만 소리 내지 않아요. 입술을 동그랗게 모으고 '뷔'라고 짧게 발음해 보세요.
Je veux un café.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 '원하다': 현재 시제의 Vouloir
🎯

동사 원형의 법칙

동사 뒤에 또 다른 행동이 올 때는 꼭 원래 모양(원형) 그대로 써주세요: Je veux manger라고 해야지 Je veux mange는 안 돼요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'vouloir'로 소망 표현하기
⚠️

Peux-je는 절대 안 돼요!

'Peux-je'는 프랑스 사람들에게 아주 어색하게 들려요. 대신 Puis-je
Est-ce que je peux
를 사용하세요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 '할 수 있다': Pouvoir (현재 시제)
🎯

동사 원형의 마법

devoir 뒤에 오는 두 번째 동사는 항상 원래 모양(원형) 그대로 두세요. Je dois manger처럼요. 둘 다 변신시키면 너무 복잡해지니까요!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 'Devoir': 의무, 가능성, 그리고 빚 (현재 시제)

핵심 어휘 (6)

vouloir to want pouvoir to be able to / can devoir must / to have to manger to eat aller to go aider to help

Real-World Preview

coffee

Ordering at a Cafe

Review Summary

  • Modal (vouloir/pouvoir/devoir) + Verb (Infinitive)

자주 하는 실수

After a modal verb like 'veut', the next verb must be an infinitive (ending in -er, -ir, -re).

Wrong: Je veux mange.
정답: Je veux manger.

Even though 'je' is the subject, the verb 'pouvoir' ends in an 'x' for 'je'.

Wrong: Je peuxs aider.
정답: Je peux aider.

The correct conjugation for 'il/elle' with 'devoir' is 'doit', not 'dois'.

Wrong: Il dois partir.
정답: Il doit partir.

Next Steps

You have mastered the most useful verbs in French! Keep practicing, and you will be speaking like a local in no time.

Write 5 sentences about your goals for the week.

빠른 연습 (10)

틀린 부분을 찾아 바르게 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Nous devons travaillons aujourd'hui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous devons travailler today.
조동사 'devons' 뒤에는 동사원형인 'travailler'가 와야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 화법 조동사와 부정사: (Devoir, Pouvoir, Vouloir)

잘못된 부분을 찾아 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Nous voulez un café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous voulons un café.
'Nous'는 항상 '-ons'로 끝나는 'voulons'와 짝꿍이에요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 '원하다': 현재 시제의 Vouloir

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 선택하세요.

다음 중 맞는 문장은?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu veux sortir ce soir ?
동사 'vouloir' 뒤에는 항상 동사 원형(sortir)이 와야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'vouloir'로 소망 표현하기

틀린 부분을 찾아 바르게 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Elles voulez voyager en France.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elles veulent voyager en France.
3인칭 복수(Elles)에 어울리는 동사 형태는 'veulent'입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'vouloir'로 소망 표현하기

틀린 부분을 찾아 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ils peut venir demain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils peuvent venir demain.
복수 주어 'ils'에 맞는 동사 변화는 'peuvent'입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 '할 수 있다': Pouvoir (현재 시제)

빈칸에 알맞은 'pouvoir'의 형태를 적어보세요.

Tu ___ m'aider avec ce DM ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: peux
'tu'와 함께 쓰일 때는 항상 '-x'로 끝나는 'peux'를 사용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 '할 수 있다': Pouvoir (현재 시제)

빈칸에 알맞은 'vouloir'의 형태를 채워보세요.

Je ___ manger une glace.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: veux
'Je'는 항상 끝에 'x'가 붙는 'veux' 형태를 사용합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 '원하다': 현재 시제의 Vouloir

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 고르세요.

다음 중 맞는 문장은?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous devons travailler.
'Nous' 형태는 원래 어근을 살린 'devons'가 정답이에요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 'Devoir': 의무, 가능성, 그리고 빚 (현재 시제)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 골라보세요.

"우리 여기서 먹을 수 있어"를 프랑스어로 하면?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: On peut manger ici.
변신한 동사 뒤에 오는 두 번째 동사는 반드시 원형('manger')이어야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 동사 '할 수 있다': Pouvoir (현재 시제)

빈칸에 알맞은 형태를 골라보세요.

Tu ___ m'aider avec mes devoirs ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: peux
주어가 'tu'일 때 'pouvoir'의 현재형은 'peux'입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 화법 조동사와 부정사: (Devoir, Pouvoir, Vouloir)

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

아니요, 'vouloir'는 오직 '원하다'라는 욕구만 나타내요. 미래는 다른 시제를 써야 해요. Je mangerai.
프랑스어의 불규칙 동사 특징이에요! 발음을 더 편하게 하기 위해 모음이 변하는 거죠. Je veux.
네! 스펠링이 둘 다 'x'로 끝나요. 예를 들어
Je veux {un|m} thé
Tu veux {un|m} thé
처럼요.
아니요, 바로 명사나 동사 원형이 옵니다. Je veux manger(먹고 싶어)처럼 바로 쓰세요.
'~할 수 있다' 또는 '~해도 된다'라는 뜻이에요. 능력이나 허락을 말할 때 쓰죠. Je peux.
'peux'로 변해요. 예를 들어 Je peux parler (나는 말할 수 있어)라고 해요.