PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
Conjugation directory
Devoir lets you express obligation, probability, and duty. It is one of the clearest ways to make an argument sound structured and exam-ready.
Use it to talk about rules, recommendations, responsibilities, and what must happen next.
Nous devons terminer ce dossier aujourd'hui.
We must finish this file today.
Do not translate devoir only as must. In context it can also mean should or is supposed to.
Use the table above and the related links below to pin the pattern down before you move on to other verbs.
Start with the present tense, then the passé composé. Those two forms carry most everyday conversation and make the rest of the table easier to recognise.
Devoir typically uses avoir in compound tenses. Check the table above and keep the past participle in view when you move into compound forms.
Use the related links below and then open the interactive conjugator to compare this verb with others you use often.