What level is The Semi-Modal Verb Devoir (Present Tense)?

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French Conjugation

The Semi-Modal Verb Devoir (Present Tense)

Introducing obligation, duty, and mild necessity ("must" or "have to").

Level A1 Category Conjugation

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Lesson Summary

Introducing obligation, duty, and mild necessity ("must" or "have to").

Conjugation

Devoir – Expressing Obligation

Devoir means ‘must’ or ‘to have to’. Like vouloir and pouvoir, it is a semi‑modal verb followed directly by an infinitive. It is used to indicate necessity, requirement, or duty. For the conjugations of the other two semi‑modal verbs, see vouloir present and pouvoir present.

Conjugation of Devoir

Subject	Form	Example
je	dois	Je dois étudier.
tu	dois	Tu dois partir ?
il / elle / on	doit	Il doit travailler.
nous	devons	Nous devons être à l’heure.
vous	devez	Vous devez écouter.
ils / elles	doivent	Elles doivent finir l’exercice.

Devoir + Infinitive

The construction is consistently devoir + infinitive. The infinitive may be any action verb:
- Je dois faire mes devoirs. (I must do my homework.)
- Tu dois te lever à six heures ? (Do you have to get up at six?)
- Nous ne devons pas oublier le livre. (We must not forget the book.)

Negation with ne … pas placed around devoir expresses either lack of obligation or prohibition, depending on context. For example, Je ne dois pas manger can mean ‘I must not eat’ (prohibition). For a full treatment of negation, see basic negation.

Devoir in Academic and Daily Contexts

This verb combines readily with school vocabulary: Je dois aller en cours de biologie. Nous devons apporter notre cahier. With time expressions: À quelle heure est-ce que tu dois partir ? With activities: Est-ce que je dois faire du sport aujourd’hui ? The question form Est-ce que is covered in forming questions with est-ce que.

Examples

Je dois étudier pour l’examen.
Dois (first person singular) + infinitive étudier.
Est-ce que tu dois travailler ce soir ?
Question with est-ce que, tu dois, and infinitive travailler.
Les étudiants doivent écouter le professeur.
Third-person plural doivent + infinitive écouter.

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The Semi-Modal Verb Devoir (Present Tense)Introducing obligation, duty, and mild necessity ("must" or "have to").Express obligations and rules by combining devoir with common infinitives in the present tense.ConjugationA1conjugationLearn French ConjugationFrench ConjugationDevoir – Expressing ObligationDevoir means ‘must’ or ‘to have to’. Like vouloir and pouvoir, it is a semi‑modal verb followed directly by an infinitive. It is used to indicate necessity, requirement, or duty. For the conjugations of the other two semi‑modal verbs, see vouloir present and pouvoir present.