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devoir
to have to [must]; to owe
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je-- dois
tu-- dois
il/elle-- doit
nous-- devons
vous-- devez
ils/elles-- doivent
past participle-- dû
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je-- veux
tu-- veux
il/elle-- veut
nous-- voulons
vous-- voulez
ils/elles-- veulent
past participle-- voulu
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pouvoir
to be able to [can]
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je-- peux
tu-- peux
il/elle-- peut
nous-- pouvons
vous-- pouvez
ils/elles-- peuvent
past participle-- pu
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devoir, vouloir, and pouvoir take avoir in the passé composé.
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Devoir can be used with an infinitive to mean to have to or must.
- On doit manger des légumes tous les jours.
- -- One must eat their vegetables every day.
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With a direct object, devoir means to owe.
- Tu me dois cinq euros pour la salade.
- -- You owe me five euros for the salad.
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Devoir is often used in the passé composé with an infinitive to speculate on what must have happened.
- Augustin a dû trop manger hier soir.
- -- Augustin must have eaten too much last night.
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In the imparfait, devoir can be used with an infinitive to express supposed to.
- Je devais faire mes devoirs.
- -- I was supposed to do my homework.
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When vouloir is used with the infinitive dire, it is translated as to mean.
- Nous voulons dire exactement le contraire.
- -- We mean exactly the opposite.
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Vouloir bien can be used to express willingness.
- Tu veux prendre de la glace?
- -- Do you want to have some ice cream?
- Oui, je veux bien prendre de la glace.
- -- Yes, I'll gladly have some ice cream.
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Vouloir is often used in the passé composé with an infinitive in negative sentences to express refused to.
- J'ai essayé, mail il n'a pas voulu parler.
- -- I tried, but he refused to talk.
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Pouvoir can be used in the passé composé with an infinitive to express managed to do something.
- Nous avons pu tout finir.
- -- We managed to finish everything.
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