The French Verb 'Devoir': Must, Have to, and Owe (Present Tense)
devoir to express personal necessity, probability, or debt by conjugating it before an infinitive or noun.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The verb 'devoir' expresses obligation or debt; remember it changes its stem significantly across different subject pronouns.
- Use 'devoir' + infinitive to express obligation: 'Je dois partir' (I must leave).
- Use 'devoir' + noun to express debt: 'Je dois dix euros' (I owe ten euros).
- The stem changes from 'doi-' in singular to 'dev-' in plural forms.
Overview
The French verb devoir is fundamental for expressing a range of essential concepts in daily communication, particularly for A1 learners. It primarily translates to "must," "have to," or "to be obliged to," conveying a sense of necessity or strong recommendation. Beyond obligation, devoir also signifies "to owe" when followed by a noun, and can even express probability or supposition, similar to "must be" in English.
Mastering devoir is crucial for navigating practical situations, from articulating personal responsibilities to making polite requests or deductions. Its versatility makes it an indispensable tool for constructing meaningful sentences in French. Understanding its various applications and irregular conjugation is a cornerstone of early French grammar acquisition.
Conjugation Table
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugated Form | Phonetic Pronunciation | English Translation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------- | ||
Je (I) |
dois |
[dwa] |
I must / have to / owe | ||
Tu (You, informal) |
dois |
[dwa] |
You must / have to / owe | ||
Il (He) |
doit |
[dwa] |
He must / has to / owes | ||
Elle (She) |
doit |
[dwa] |
She must / has to / owes | ||
On (One/We) |
doit |
[dwa] |
One must / has to / owes | ||
Nous (We) |
devons |
[də.vɔ̃] |
We must / have to / owe | ||
Vous (You, formal/plural) |
devez |
[də.ve] |
You must / have to / owe | ||
Ils (They, masc.) |
doivent |
[dwav] |
They must / have to / owe | ||
Elles (They, fem.) |
doivent |
[dwav] |
They must / have to / owe |
How This Grammar Works
devoir functions as a semi-modal verb in French, much like "must" or "have to" in English. When expressing obligation or necessity, devoir is always followed by an infinitive verb. The infinitive is the base form of the verb, unchanged and not conjugated (e.g., parler, manger, finir).devoir carries the meaning of obligation, while the infinitive specifies the action. For instance, in Je dois partir, dois conveys the necessity, and partir indicates the action of leaving.devoir + infinitive, forms a verb chain. Only the first verb in the chain (devoir) is conjugated to agree with the subject; the second verb remains in its infinitive form. This principle is crucial for understanding how modal verbs operate in French.Nous devons étudier means "We must study," where devons is conjugated for nous, and étudier remains an infinitive.devoir has a distinct meaning when followed directly by a noun or a pronoun. In this context, it translates to "to owe." For instance, Tu me dois vingt euros means "You owe me twenty euros." Here, devoir directly takes vingt euros as its object, fundamentally changing its semantic role from expressing obligation to denoting a debt. This duality makes devoir particularly versatile but also requires careful attention to the grammatical context to correctly interpret its meaning.devoir can express probability or supposition. When used this way, it often implies a logical deduction or an educated guess. For example, Il doit être fatigué means "He must be tired," indicating a strong likelihood rather than an obligation.devoir followed by an infinitive, often être (to be), or another verb. The context usually clarifies whether it's an obligation or a probability.Formation Pattern
Devoir is classified as an irregular verb due to its stem changes in the present tense, making it a prime example of a "boot verb" (or "shoe verb"). This term describes verbs where the stem changes for je, tu, il/elle/on, and ils/elles, but reverts to a more regular form for nous and vous.
je, tu, il, elle, on: The original stem dev- transforms into doi-. To this new stem, you add the endings:
je + doi- + -s = Je dois
tu + doi- + -s = Tu dois
il/elle/on + doi- + -t = Il/Elle/On doit
oi sound in these forms, and the -s and -t endings are silent, a common feature in French verbal conjugations. For instance, On doit respecter les règles ("One must respect the rules").
nous and vous: The stem surprisingly returns to its original form, dev-, which is derived from the infinitive devoir itself. This is why it's a "boot verb" – these forms are outside the 'boot' shape.
nous + dev- + -ons = Nous devons
vous + dev- + -ez = Vous devez
-ons and -ez are pronounced, and the v sound is maintained. An example is Vous devez étudier pour l'examen ("You must study for the exam").
ils and elles: The stem changes again, this time to doiv-. This oi sound reappears, consistent with the singular forms, but with the addition of the v.
ils/elles + doiv- + -ent = Ils/Elles doivent
-ent ending is silent, making doivent sound like [dwav]. For example, Elles doivent travailler plus tard ce soir ("They have to work later tonight").
pouvoir (can) or vouloir (want). The consistency of the oi sound in the je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles forms, contrasted with the e sound in nous and vous, is a key phonetic marker.
When To Use It
Devoir is employed in several distinct contexts, each conveying a different shade of meaning. Recognizing these nuances is essential for appropriate usage at an A1 level.- 1To Express Obligation or Necessity (Must, Have to):
devoir. It indicates a personal obligation, a requirement, or something that is absolutely necessary. It's always followed by an infinitive verb.Je dois finir mes devoirs avant de sortir ("I have to finish my homework before going out"). This signifies a personal responsibility.Tu dois manger tes légumes ("You must eat your vegetables"), implying a requirement from another person or a general health necessity. If you're running late, you might say Nous devons partir maintenant ("We must leave now"). This clearly communicates an urgent necessity.- 1To Express Probability or Supposition (Must be, Probably):
Devoir can convey a strong likelihood or an educated guess. In this context, it translates more like "must be" or "probably." This usage often reflects a deduction based on available evidence or common sense. It's frequently followed by être (to be) or another verb in the infinitive.Il doit être le facteur ("It must be the postman"). This isn't an obligation for the postman but a probable identification. Similarly, if a friend seems tired, you could say, Tu dois être fatigué après cette longue journée ("You must be tired after this long day").Ils doivent arriver bientôt ("They must be arriving soon") suggests an expectation based on prior arrangements.- 1To Express Financial or Moral Debt (To Owe):
devoir is followed directly by a noun, it means "to owe." This can refer to money, favors, or any other form of debt or obligation between individuals. This is a very direct and concrete usage. For example, Je te dois quinze euros ("I owe you fifteen euros") explicitly states a financial debt.Elle me doit un service ("She owes me a favor"). This indicates a moral or social obligation to reciprocate. In a restaurant setting, you might hear Vous devez l'addition ("You owe the bill").- 1To Express Future Intention or Arrangement (Supposed to):
devoir in the present tense can subtly imply a future action that is planned or expected, often with a mild sense of obligation. It can be translated as "am/is/are supposed to" or "am/is/are to." This usage bridges the gap between strict obligation and a pre-arranged plan. For instance, Nous devons nous rencontrer demain ("We are supposed to meet tomorrow") indicates a pre-scheduled meeting rather than an immediate, urgent need.Il doit appeler sa mère ce soir ("He is supposed to call his mother tonight") implies an expectation or a promise. This shows that devoir isn't always about immediate, overwhelming necessity, but can also fit into planned future events.When Not To Use It
devoir is highly versatile, there are specific situations where other French verbs or constructions are more appropriate. Misusing devoir can lead to unnatural-sounding sentences or miscommunications.- For Impersonal Necessity (
Il faut): Avoiddevoirwhen expressing a general, impersonal necessity or an obligation that applies to everyone, without specifying a particular subject. French uses the impersonal expressionil faut(it is necessary, one must) for this. For example, to say "One must be polite," you would useIl faut être poli, notOn doit être poli(which would imply a specific group's obligation).Il fautis fixed in theilform and is always followed by an infinitive or a noun. It reflects a universal truth or a general rule, whereasdevoirassigns responsibility to a specific person or group. Therefore,Il faut travailler(One must work) is a general statement, whileJe dois travailler(I must work) is a personal obligation.
- For Ability or Permission (
Pouvoir): Do not usedevoirto express that someone "can" or "is able to" do something, or to ask for/grant permission. The verbpouvoir(to be able to, can, may) is the correct choice for these meanings. For example, to say "I can speak French," you useJe peux parler français, notJe dois parler français(which would mean "I must speak French"). Similarly, when asking for permission,Est-ce que je peux entrer ?("Can I come in?") is correct, notEst-ce que je dois entrer ?(which would mean "Must I come in?").Devoirimplies a lack of choice, whilepouvoirimplies capability or allowance.
- For Desire or Will (
Vouloir):Devoirshould not be used to express a desire, a wish, or what someone "wants" to do. The verbvouloir(to want) is dedicated to this purpose. If you want to say "I want to eat chocolate," you useJe veux manger du chocolat, notJe dois manger du chocolat(unless you have a very strict diet or a medical condition requiring it!).Vouloirindicates a personal preference or intention, whereasdevoirsuggests a requirement that might not align with personal desire. The distinction is between internal volition and external or internal obligation.
- For Strong Advice or Recommendation (Conditional
Devoir): Whiledevoirin the present tense can sometimes imply a soft "should" in English translations, for clearer and more idiomatic expression of advice or recommendation, especially at higher CEFR levels, the conditional tense ofdevoir(devrais,devrait, etc.) is preferred. For A1 learners, stick todevoirfor strict "must" or "have to." UsingTu dois faire attention("You must pay attention") is stronger thanTu devrais faire attention("You should pay attention"). The present tense conveys a more immediate and less negotiable obligation compared to the conditional's advisory tone.
Common Mistakes
devoir. Being aware of these pitfalls will help you avoid them and sound more natural.- Incorrect Pronunciation of
dois,doit, anddoivent: This is a very common trap. The-sindoisand the-tindoitare silent. BothJe doisandIl doitare pronounced[dwa]. Similarly, the-entinIls doiventis silent, sodoiventis pronounced[dwav]. A common mistake is to pronounce the final consonants, which immediately marks you as a non-native speaker. Listen carefully to native speakers and practice the correct pronunciation. For example, do not saydo-isordo-it.
- Conjugating the Second Verb in a
Devoir+ Infinitive Construction: A fundamental rule for modal verbs likedevoiris that the verb following it must remain in the infinitive form. Many learners incorrectly conjugate the second verb. For example, you might hearJe dois vais au marchéinstead of the correctJe dois aller au marché("I must go to the market"). Remember,devoirtakes all the conjugation work, leaving the action verb untouched. The structure is alwaysSubject + conjugated devoir + infinitive verb.
- Using the Wrong Stem for
NousandVousForms: Due to the stem change inje,tu,il/elle/on, andils/elles(todoi-ordoiv-), learners sometimes mistakenly extend this stem tonousandvous, saying things likeNous doivonsorVous doivez. The correct forms areNous devonsandVous devez, where the stem reverts todev-. This is a classic characteristic of "boot verbs," and memorizing this specific irregularity is crucial.Nous devons partir("We have to leave") is correct.
- Confusing
DevoirwithIl faut: As discussed,devoirimplies a personal obligation (someone has to do something), whereasil fautexpresses an impersonal, general necessity (it is necessary to do something). Usingdevoirwhenil fautis appropriate can sound odd or overly direct. For example, to say "It is necessary to recycle," useIl faut recycler, notOn doit recyclerif you mean a general imperative. Conversely, usingil fautfor a personal debt,Il faut vingt eurosinstead ofTu me dois vingt euros, is incorrect and changes the meaning entirely.
- Overuse in Situations of Ability or Desire: Beginners sometimes default to
devoirwhen they mean "can" or "want." Always ensure you are expressing obligation or debt, not capability (pouvoir) or volition (vouloir). If you are capable of doing something, it'sJe peux, notJe dois. If you desire something, it'sJe veux, notJe dois. This distinction is fundamental to conveying the correct meaning.
Memory Trick
Remembering the irregular conjugation of devoir can be challenging, but a few tricks can help solidify it in your mind.
- The "Boot Verb" Visual: Imagine a boot drawn around the conjugation table. The forms je dois, tu dois, il/elle/on doit, and ils/elles doivent are inside the boot, where the stem changes. The nous devons and vous devez forms are outside the boot, retaining the dev- stem. This visual helps you remember which forms are irregular and which are more regular. The oi sound is primarily found inside the boot, while the e sound (like in dev) is outside.
- The dois for "do" connection: For je and tu, dois sounds like a sophisticated way of saying "do" (in English, when asking a question or emphasizing). While not a direct translation, associating dois with a command to "do" something might help you recall the initial forms: Je dois (I do/must do), Tu dois (You do/must do). This connects the English auxiliary "do" to the French modal sense of devoir.
- Phonetic Pattern Recognition: Practice saying [dwa] for the singular forms and [dwav] for ils/elles, contrasting it with [də.vɔ̃] and [də.ve] for nous and vous. The [dwa] sound is quite distinct and helps group the irregular forms together. Think of the "w" sound in English as a bridge to remembering the oi sound in French dois/doit/doivent.
Real Conversations
Understanding devoir in context reveals its natural place in everyday French communication. It's used in both formal and informal settings, from setting personal plans to discussing work obligations.
- In Daily Life:
- Student: Je dois réviser pour mon examen de français demain. ("I have to study for my French exam tomorrow.") – Expresses personal obligation.
- Friend to friend (text): Tu dois venir à ma soirée ! ("You must come to my party!") – A strong, friendly invitation implying high expectation.
- Parent to child: On doit ranger nos affaires avant de jouer. ("We must tidy our things before playing.") – Shared obligation.
- At Work/Professional Setting:
- Colleague: Nous devons terminer ce rapport avant la fin de la journée. ("We must finish this report before the end of the day.") – Professional deadline.
- Manager (email): Vous devez valider les documents. Il doit être déjà envoyé. ("You must validate the documents. It must already be sent.") – Obligation and probability.
- Social & Financial:
- Friend: Tu me dois un café pour la dernière fois. ("You owe me a coffee for last time.") – Reciprocal social debt.
- Shopkeeper to customer: Vous nous devez cent euros. ("You owe us one hundred euros.") – Financial transaction.
- Making Deductions:
- Observing: Elle n'est pas là, elle doit être malade. ("She's not here, she must be sick.") – Logical deduction based on observation.
- Guessing: Ce doit être difficile de vivre sans internet. ("It must be difficult to live without internet.") – General supposition.
These examples show devoir in various registers, from informal texts using tu to more formal work emails using vous. The context makes the meaning clear, whether it's a must-do task, a financial debt, or a thoughtful guess.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
devoir, it's important to differentiate it from other French expressions that convey related but distinct meanings. Confusing these patterns is common for learners.- 1
Devoirvs.Il faut:
Devoir(personal obligation): Expresses an obligation specific to the subject.Je dois travailler.(I must work.)Tu dois faire la vaisselle.(You must do the dishes.) The emphasis is on who has the obligation. It assigns responsibility.Il faut(impersonal necessity): Expresses a general, universal necessity or a strong recommendation that applies broadly.Il faut travailler pour réussir.(One must work to succeed.)Il faut faire la vaisselle après le repas.(One must do the dishes after the meal.)Il fautis always in theilform, even when referring to multiple people, and does not specify a subject. It's like a rule of life or a general requirement. For instance,Il faut dormir huit heures par nuit("One must sleep eight hours per night") is a general health recommendation, whereasJe dois dormir huit heures par nuit("I must sleep eight hours per night") is a personal commitment or need.
- 1
Devoirvs.Pouvoir:
Devoir(obligation/necessity): Implies a lack of choice or a strong requirement.Je dois finir ce projet.(I must finish this project – I have no choice.)Nous devons y aller.(We have to go – it's necessary.)Pouvoir(ability/permission): Expresses capability or permission.Je peux finir ce projet.(I can finish this project – I have the ability.)Nous pouvons y aller.(We can go – we are allowed or able.) The distinction is crucial:devoirimplies "no option," whilepouvoirimplies "option is available." For example,Je dois t'aider("I must help you") conveys an obligation, butJe peux t'aider("I can help you") offers assistance without obligation.
- 1
Devoirvs.Vouloir:
Devoir(obligation): Focuses on what one is required to do, regardless of personal desire.Je dois étudier.(I must study – perhaps I don't want to, but it's necessary.)Vouloir(desire/will): Focuses on personal desire or intention.Je veux étudier.(I want to study – it's my preference.) These verbs often appear in contrast, highlighting the difference between duty and wish.Tu dois manger("You must eat") is a command,Tu veux manger("You want to eat") is a question of desire.
- 1
Devoir(Present) vs.Devoir(Conditional):
Devoir(Present): Expresses strong obligation ("must," "have to") or high probability.Tu dois venir.(You must come.)Devoir(Conditional -devrais,devrait, etc.): Expresses softer obligation, advice, or what "should" be done.Tu devrais venir.(You should come.) This distinction, while more advanced, is important to note even at A1. For beginners, focus on the strong obligation of the present tense.
Progressive Practice
Learning devoir effectively means practicing its various forms and meanings incrementally. Start with the basics and gradually add complexity.
Conjugation Drill: Begin by writing out the full present tense conjugation of devoir for all pronouns daily until it becomes automatic. Focus on the stem changes and silent letters.
- Exercise: Fill in the blank with the correct form of devoir: Je ______ travailler. (dois)
- Exercise: Nous ______ finir ce livre. (devons)
Devoir + Infinitive (Obligation): Practice forming sentences where devoir expresses a personal necessity. Use a variety of infinitive verbs.
- Exercise: Combine Tu + devoir + étudier. (Tu dois étudier.)
- Exercise: Combine Elles + devoir + attendre. (Elles doivent attendre.)
- Translate: "I must buy bread." (Je dois acheter du pain.)
Devoir + Noun (To Owe): Construct sentences where devoir means "to owe," followed by a direct object noun (money, favor, etc.).
- Exercise: Il me ______ vingt euros. (doit)
- Exercise: Je te ______ un service. (dois)
- Translate: "You (plural) owe us an explanation." (Vous nous devez une explication.)
Devoir + Infinitive (Probability): Practice making deductions or expressing likelihood.
- Exercise: Combine Il + devoir + être + fatigué. (Il doit être fatigué.)
- Translate: "She must be very busy." (Elle doit être très occupée.)
Contextual Sentence Building: Create short dialogues or scenarios where you need to use devoir in its different meanings. This helps you choose the correct usage based on context.
- Scenario: You're meeting a friend, but you have an early class. Je ______ partir tôt demain matin. (dois)
- Scenario: Your friend lent you money. Je te ______ l'argent demain. (dois)
By progressively engaging with these practice types, you will reinforce both the conjugation and the semantic nuances of devoir.
Quick FAQ
devoir.- Q: Can
devoiralways be translated as "must"?
Not always. While "must" is a primary translation for obligation, devoir also means "to have to," "to owe" (when followed by a noun), and "must be" (for probability). The context is key.
- Q: Is the final
sortpronounced indoisanddoit?
No, these final consonants are silent. Both dois and doit are pronounced [dwa]. Similarly, the -ent in doivent is also silent.
- Q: How do I know if
devoirmeans "must" or "to owe"?
If devoir is followed by an infinitive verb, it means "must" or "have to" (e.g., Je dois parler). If it's followed directly by a noun or pronoun, it means "to owe" (e.g., Je te dois un livre).
- Q: Can
devoirexpress future actions?
Yes, in the present tense, devoir + infinitive can imply a near future action that is planned or expected, often with a mild obligation. For example, Je dois voir le médecin demain ("I am supposed to see the doctor tomorrow").
- Q: Is
devoirformal or informal?
Devoir itself is neutral. Its formality depends on the subject pronoun (tu for informal, vous for formal/plural) and the overall context of the conversation.
- Q: Why does the stem change so much?
Devoir is an irregular verb, part of a group with historical phonetic developments. These stem changes, often called "boot verb" patterns, are common in French and require memorization. The oi sound often comes from Latin roots where o combined with a following i or y mutated in certain contexts.
- Q: Is
devoirsimilar to English "should"?
In the present tense, devoir is a stronger obligation, closer to "must" or "have to." For a softer "should" (advice or recommendation), French typically uses devoir in the conditional tense (Je devrais, Tu devrais, etc.). For A1, focus on the strong obligation of the present tense.
Conjugation of 'Devoir' (Present Tense)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
|
Je
|
dois
|
|
Tu
|
dois
|
|
Il/Elle/On
|
doit
|
|
Nous
|
devons
|
|
Vous
|
devez
|
|
Ils/Elles
|
doivent
|
Meanings
Devoir is a versatile modal verb used to indicate necessity, obligation, or financial debt.
Obligation
To have to do something (necessity).
“Tu dois manger.”
“Il doit travailler.”
Debt
To owe money or an object.
“Je lui dois 5 euros.”
“Elle me doit un café.”
Probability
To be likely to (must be).
“Il doit être fatigué.”
“Elle doit arriver bientôt.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + devoir + infinitive
|
Je dois manger
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + ne + devoir + pas + infinitive
|
Je ne dois pas manger
|
|
Interrogative
|
Devoir + subject + infinitive?
|
Dois-tu manger?
|
|
Debt
|
Subject + devoir + noun
|
Je te dois 5€
|
|
Logical
|
Subject + devoir + être + adjective
|
Il doit être fatigué
|
Formality Spectrum
Je dois partir. (Leaving a meeting)
Je dois y aller. (Leaving a meeting)
Faut que j'y aille. (Leaving a meeting)
Je me casse. (Leaving a meeting)
The Three Faces of Devoir
Obligation
- Je dois partir I must leave
Debt
- Je te dois 5€ I owe you 5€
Probability
- Il doit être tard It must be late
Examples by Level
Je dois partir.
I must leave.
Tu dois manger.
You must eat.
Il doit travailler.
He must work.
Nous devons étudier.
We must study.
Je te dois dix euros.
I owe you ten euros.
Elle doit être fatiguée.
She must be tired.
Vous devez faire vos devoirs.
You must do your homework.
Ils doivent arriver bientôt.
They must be arriving soon.
Tu ne dois pas fumer ici.
You must not smoke here.
Nous devons une réponse à nos clients.
We owe an answer to our clients.
Il doit avoir raison.
He must be right.
Elles doivent finir le projet.
They must finish the project.
Il doit s'agir d'une erreur.
It must be a mistake.
Je dois vous avouer quelque chose.
I must confess something to you.
Vous devez être épuisés après ce voyage.
You must be exhausted after this trip.
On doit toujours respecter les règles.
One must always respect the rules.
Il doit être en train de dormir.
He must be sleeping right now.
Nous devons faire face à la réalité.
We must face reality.
Elle doit beaucoup à ses parents.
She owes a lot to her parents.
Ils doivent être arrivés à destination.
They must have arrived at their destination.
Il doit son succès à son travail acharné.
He owes his success to his hard work.
On ne doit pas prendre de décisions hâtives.
One must not make hasty decisions.
Elle doit être la personne la plus qualifiée.
She must be the most qualified person.
Nous devons nous en tenir au plan initial.
We must stick to the initial plan.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'must', but 'falloir' is impersonal.
Same verb, different structure.
Learners mix up tenses.
Common Mistakes
Je devons
Je dois
Je dois manger pomme
Je dois manger une pomme
Il doit manger
Il doit manger
Tu dois pas partir
Tu ne dois pas partir
Je dois à toi 5 euros
Je te dois 5 euros
Il doit être fatigué
Il doit être fatigué
Nous devons partir
Nous devons partir
Il doit de l'argent
Il doit de l'argent
Je dois que tu partes
Il faut que tu partes
Il doit avoir fini
Il doit avoir fini
Il doit être arrivé
Il doit être arrivé
Je dois de faire
Je dois faire
Il doit à moi
Il me doit
Nous devons d'étudier
Nous devons étudier
Sentence Patterns
Je dois ___.
Tu me dois ___ euros.
Il doit être ___.
Nous devons ___ pour réussir.
Real World Usage
Je dois y aller, à plus !
Je dois être ponctuel.
Vous devez confirmer votre commande.
Je dois acheter un billet.
On doit partager cette vidéo !
Nous devons rendre le devoir.
Stem Change
Don't use 'que'
Logical deduction
Debt vs Obligation
Smart Tips
Use 'Je dois' + infinitive.
Use 'Je te dois' + noun.
Use 'Il doit' + être + adjective.
Use the conditional 'devrais'.
Pronunciation
Doi vs Dev
The 'oi' is pronounced /wa/, the 'ev' is /ev/.
Rising for questions
Dois-tu partir? ↑
Polite inquiry
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: 'Doi' for the singular, 'Dev' for the plural. Think 'Doi-ing' (singular) and 'Dev-eloping' (plural).
Visual Association
Imagine a person holding a 'Must' sign (singular) and a group of people holding a 'Debt' bag (plural).
Rhyme
Je dois, tu dois, il doit, we all have to do it right. Nous devons, vous devez, ils doivent, the debt is paid, we're all set.
Story
I wake up and say 'Je dois travailler' (I must work). I see my friend and say 'Je te dois un café' (I owe you a coffee). We both say 'Nous devons partir' (We must leave).
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences using 'devoir' about your day in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Using 'devoir' is standard for professional and personal obligations.
Often replaced by 'falloir' in casual speech.
Used formally in business contexts.
Comes from the Latin 'debere', meaning to owe.
Conversation Starters
Que dois-tu faire aujourd'hui ?
Est-ce que tu me dois quelque chose ?
À ton avis, que doit-on faire pour réussir ?
Si tu devais changer une chose, quoi serait-ce ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ partir.
Choose the correct one.
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu devons partir.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I owe you 5 euros.
Answer starts with: Je ...
Nous ___ partir.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Je suis fatigué. B: Tu ___ te reposer.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ partir.
Choose the correct one.
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu devons partir.
dois / je / partir
I owe you 5 euros.
Nous ___ partir.
Match 'Il doit' with meaning.
A: Je suis fatigué. B: Tu ___ te reposer.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesIls ___ (devoir) dormir.
I owe you 10 euros.
doit / Elle / étudier / ce soir
It must be 8 o'clock.
Match these:
Vous devez payez la facture.
On ___ (devoir) y aller.
Do you have to work?
You (formal) have to wait.
Elles ___ (devoir) finir le projet.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, it can be followed by a noun to mean 'to owe'.
It is an irregular verb with historical roots.
Yes, 'j'ai dû'.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
'Devoir' is personal, 'falloir' is impersonal.
Use 'ne... pas' around the verb.
Yes, 'Tu me dois un café'.
Extremely common.
Scaffolded Practice
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4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
deber
Spanish uses 'deber de' for probability, French just uses 'devoir'.
müssen
German does not use 'müssen' to mean 'to owe' (that is 'schulden').
~nakereba narimasen
Japanese has no single verb equivalent to 'devoir' for both obligation and debt.
yajib an
Arabic does not conjugate the modal for the subject in the same way.
bìxū
Chinese verbs do not conjugate, making 'devoir' much more complex in French.
must/have to/owe
French uses one verb for all three meanings.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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