THE MODAL VERBS



THE MODAL VERBS

These 4 verbs are best viewed as pairs as there are similarities with them.

vouloir = to want (to) pouvoir = to be able / to can

|Je veux |I want (to) |Je peux |I can |

|Tu veux |You want (to) |Tu peux |You can |

|Il veut |He wants (to) |Il peut |He can |

|Elle veut |She wants (to) |Elle peut |She can |

|On veut |One wants (to) |On peut |One can |

| | | | |

|Nous voulons |We want (to) |Nous pouvons |We can |

|Vous voulez |You want (to) |Vous pouvez |You can |

|Ils veulent |They want (to) |Ils peuvent |They can |

|Elles veulent |They want (to) |Elles peuvent |They can |

| | | | |

| | |NB Puis-je? |Can I? |

savoir = savoir to know a fact devoir = to have to

to know how to to must

|Je sais |I know |Je dois |I must/have to |

|Tu sais |You know |Tu dois |You must |

|Il sait |He knows |Il doit |He must |

|Elle sait |She knows |Elle doit |She must |

|On sait |One knows |On doit |One must |

| | | | |

|Nous savons |We know |Nous devons |We must |

|Vous savez |You know |Vous devez |You must |

|Ils savent |They know |Ils doivent |They must |

|Elles savent |They know |Elles doivent |They must |

THE MODAL VERBS

These verbs are often used in conjunction with another verb. The usual rule applies when there are two verbs in a sentence.

The first verb is CONJUGATED and the second one is the INFINITIVE.

Examples

1. Tu peux aller au cinéma = You can go to the cinema.

1 2

2. Nous devons rester à la maison ce soir = We must stay at home tonight

1 2

3. Je veux faire mes devoirs = I want to do my homework

1. 2

4. Elle sait jouer du piano = She knows how to play the piano

1. 2

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