Sport

It’s not just in English , Spanish or German that modal auxiliaries are important . They are as essential as they are frequent in French! Today we suggest you review the use of the most common French modal verbs: duty , power and want . These little verbs are also called “modal auxiliaries” because they are often followed by an infinitive verb. 

French modal verbs are essential in everyday life: thanks to them, you can express obligation, possibility, permission and will. Indispensable, we tell you!

To have, to be able, to want: how to use the three French modal verbs?

1. Use the verb must to express obligation or probability

In French, unlike English, obligation and necessity are expressed with a single modal verb: duty . With duty , we can express must , have to and need to at the same time . It’s practical, isn’t it? So who said French grammar was complicated?

Example : 

• You have to take a vacation my heart, you have to rest!

-> You must take a vacation honey, you need to rest!

• I have to take Lola to her dance class at 5:00.

-> I have to bring Lola to her dance class at 5:00.

Duty can also express probability, for example: Anne-Sophie is not there, she must be sick. Anne-Sophie isn’t here, she must be sick.

Have you noticed that French modal verbs are used without a preposition? Indeed, the infinitive verb is placed after. She must be… 

How to conjugate duty in the present: 

• I’ve got to
• you must
• he/she/it must
• we must
• you have to
• they must 

The pronunciation is the same for the three singular persons: I, you, he/she/on {dwa}. It’s getting easier and easier, isn’t it?

2. Use the verb can to express possibility or permission

Pouvoir works like can in English. It expresses what is possible in a particular context. 

Example : 

• I can bring wine and cheese tonight.

-> I can bring wine and cheese tonight .

Power can also express the permission given by someone. 

• Passengers can use their computer during the flight.

-> Passengers can use their computer during the flight.

Warning: unlike can , power does not express a learned skill. For this, we use the verb to know . 

Note the difference with these examples: 

• I know how to swim.

-> I can swim (because I learned how to).

• I can swim. 

-> I can swim (because it’s possible to: the water isn’t too cold, there is no shark…).

How to conjugate power in the present:

• I can 
• you can 
• he/she/it can
• we can
• you can
• they can 

Again, for the first three people, the verb is pronounced the same: I, you, he/she/it {p ø }

3. Use the verb to want to express a will 

Want expresses the will, like want to in English.

Example :

• Do you want to go to the restaurant or the cinema?

-> Do you want to go to the restaurant or to the cinema?

Here, to want is also followed by the infinitive, as in English , but without a preposition!

Good to know : As you want means as you wish in English. It’s a very useful expression when you can’t decide! 

How to conjugate to want in the present:

• I want
• you want
• he/she/it wants
• we want
• you want
• they want 

That’s all you need to know to use French modal verbs well… and to explain them to your friends who are learning the language of Molière!

French modal verbs: how to use them well? Read More