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Peux, veux or dois? French present modals at a glance

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose pouvoir, vouloir or devoir for ability, wishes and obligation. Compare all six forms, useful negatives and five short questions.

In short

Use je peux for “I can”, je veux for “I want to” and je dois for “I have to”. Add the action directly in the infinitive: je peux venir, je veux venir, je dois venir. The modal changes; venir stays the same.

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An adult preparing a coat and bag to leave home for a planned visit.
A departure gives context to je dois venir. Illustration: Atelier

Pouvoir · vouloir · devoir

1 · Ability or permission: pouvoir

Pouvoir says that something is possible for someone, or allowed. In a question, it can ask for help or permission.

Je peux venir samedi.I can come on Saturday.

Tu peux m’aider, s’il te plaît ?Can you help me, please?

On peut entrer ?May we come in?

2 · Wishes: vouloir

Vouloir expresses wanting. Use it with an infinitive to say what you want to do. Je voudrais is a useful softer form when making a request.

Je veux apprendre le français.I want to learn French.

Vous voulez travailler ensemble ?Do you want to work together?

3 · Obligation: devoir

Devoir expresses having to do something. Compare the same action with each modal: possible, wanted or required.

Nous devons partir à huit heures.We have to leave at eight.

Elle doit travailler ce soir.She has to work this evening.

4 · An infinitive straight after the modal

Use pouvoir / vouloir / devoir + infinitive. A preposition belonging to the second verb stays: parler à Léa still needs à.

Je veux parler à Léa.I want to speak to Léa.

Vous pouvez lui répondre demain.You can reply to her tomorrow.

Study the subject forms
Subjectpouvoirvouloirdevoir
jepeuxveuxdois
tupeuxveuxdois
il / elle / onpeutveutdoit
nouspouvonsvoulonsdevons
vouspouvezvoulezdevez
ils / ellespeuventveulentdoivent
Four different negative messages
FrenchMeaning
Je ne peux pas venir.I cannot come.
Je ne veux pas venir.I do not want to come.
Tu ne dois pas entrer.You must not enter.
Tu n’as pas besoin de venir.You do not need to come.

For “do not need to”, use ne pas avoir besoin de. In the prohibition above, ne dois pas means “must not”. Keep the intended message clear before choosing the verb. The third-person forms end in -t: peut, veut, doit.

Question 1No account needed
Express an obligation with nous.Nous ___ partir maintenant.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

devons. Devons is the nous form of devoir and expresses the required obligation.

Question 2No account needed
Express a wish with elles.Elles ___ apprendre l’espagnol.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

veulent. Veulent expresses what they want to do. Apprendre remains in the infinitive.

Question 3No account needed
Complete pouvoir with vous.Vous ___ m’aider ?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

pouvez. The subject vous takes pouvez, followed directly by the infinitive aider.

Question 4No account needed
Build “She can come”.Elle peut ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

venir. After peut, use the infinitive venir directly, with no added preposition.

Question 5No account needed
Say “You do not need to come”.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Tu n’as pas besoin de venir.. Ne pas avoir besoin de expresses absence of necessity. The other choices change the message.

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