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!
