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Devoir is another irregular verb that occurs with great frequency. Depending on context, it can mean any of the following: "to owe, to have to, must" or "should." Here are the forms for devoir in the Present tense:

DEVOIR –"to have to, should"
 

je dois
tu dois
il, elle doit
nous devons
vous devez
ils, elles doivent

Its most common use is to express obligation. In that case it is always followed by an infinitive:
 

Je dois partir à dix heures.
I have to (should) leave at ten o'clock.
Il doit aller au quatrième étage.
He has to (should) go to the fifth floor.
Vous devez travailler cet après-midi.
You have to (should) work this afternoon.

In negative phrases or in questions, the meaning becomes more nuanced:
 

Est-ce qu’on doit regarder ce film?
Should one (we) see that film? OR: Must we see that film?
Il ne doit pas y aller.
He doesn’t have to go there. OR: He mustn’t go there.

Only context can tell which of these meanings is the more appropriate.

Depending on the context, devoir can also be used to express conjecture:
 

Jacques n’est pas ici aujourd’hui.
Jack isn’t here today.
Il doit être malade.
He must be sick. (conjecture)

Another meaning of devoir is to owe (something to someone):
 

Je dois 100 FF à Marie.
I owe 100 francs to Mary.
Elle doit dix francs à Pierre.
She owes Peter ten francs.*
Elle lui doit dix francs.
She owes him ten francs.*

*The person being owed something is always introduced by à or is indicated by an indirect object pronoun.



Examples of Devoir

  • Je dois aller à la Concorde. Comment faire pour y aller?
  • Vous devez prendre la ligne 4 direction Porte d'Orléans.