français · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Devoir: present tense
Express obligation and probability without confusing the singular stems.
Understand the choice
Devoir is stronger than a plan: it marks duty, necessity, or a confident deduction. The infinitive says what action is required, while context decides whether doit means must or is probably.
Core rule: Devoir uses doi- in singular, dev- in nous and vous, and doiv- in third-person plural, followed by an infinitive.
Notice it in context
Je dois partir maintenant, mais vous devez rester ici.
I must leave now, but you must stay here.
Dois and devez agree with different subjects; partir and rester remain infinitives.
Nous devons réserver avant vendredi.
We have to book before Friday.
Devons carries tense and person; réserver stays infinitive.
Il est tard : elle doit être chez elle.
It is late: she must be at home.
Doit expresses a logical probability rather than an imposed duty.
What to remember
- The past participle dû carries a circumflex; the present forms do not.
- Ne pas devoir can mean must not or not be supposed to, depending on context.
Common trap: Do not conjugate both verbs: say vous devez partir, not vous devez partez.