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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