devoir passé composé conjugation
Devoir (to have to/must) in the passé composé: ai dû, as dû, a dû, avons dû, avez dû, ont dû.
Passé composé Compound past
| j' | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
ending regular · irr breaks the pattern · tap a form to hear it
When to use the passé composé
The passé composé is the everyday past tense for completed actions: “Hier, j’ai mangé au restaurant.” It is built from avoir or être in the present plus the past participle.
How it is formed
Present of avoir (or être for the “house of être” verbs and all reflexive verbs) + past participle. With être the participle agrees with the subject: elle est allée, ils sont allés.
Devoir is irregular here. 6 of 6 forms break the pattern (dark tiles above). The irregular part is the past participle, dû; the auxiliary is conjugated normally.
Read more: Passé composé: avoir or être?
Devoir in a sentence
- Je dois partir maintenant.I must leave now.
- Elle devait finir son travail.She had to finish her work.
Irregular modal verb; also means 'to owe' when used with a noun.
FAQ
What is the passé composé of devoir?
Devoir in the French passé composé: j' ai dû, tu as dû, il/elle/on a dû, nous avons dû, vous avez dû, ils/elles ont dû.
Is devoir irregular in the passé composé?
Yes. 6 of 6 forms break the regular pattern: j' ai dû; tu as dû; il/elle/on a dû; nous avons dû; vous avez dû; ils/elles ont dû.
When do you use the French passé composé?
The passé composé is the everyday past tense for completed actions: “Hier, j’ai mangé au restaurant.” It is built from avoir or être in the present plus the past participle.
How is the passé composé formed?
Present of avoir (or être for the “house of être” verbs and all reflexive verbs) + past participle. With être the participle agrees with the subject: elle est allée, ils sont allés.
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