How to translate modals like can, should, and must into French
Modal verbs, also called modal auxiliaries or simply modals, are
unconjugated English verbs which express the mood
of a verb, such as ability, possibility, condition, and necessity. With the exception of "ought,"
modals are followed directly by the verb they modify (without "to").
There are ten common English modal verbs:
French does not have modal verbs, which can make it difficult to translate
them. The French equivalents of modal verbs may be a conjugatable verb (e.g.,
pouvoir), or a tense, mood, or adverb. Note that "could" and "would"
can be used in the present and past, with varied meanings.
can
pouvoir (present tense)
I can help you.
Je peux vous aider.
We can see it.
Nous pouvons le voir.
could (present)
pouvoir (conditional)
I could dance all night.
Je pourrais danser pendant toute la nuit.
Could you help me?
Pourriez-vous m'aider ?
could (past)
pouvoir (imperfect)
He could read when he was three.
Il pouvait lire quand il avait trois ans.
Last year, I could sleep until noon every day.
L'année dernière, je pouvais dormir jusqu'à midi tous les jours.
may, might
peut-être, pouvoir (conditional), se pouvoir
(present)
She may/might arrive at noon.
Elle arrivera peut-être à midi.
Elle pourrait arriver à midi.
Il se peut qu'elle arrive à midi.
must
devoir (present)
I must leave.
Je dois partir.
You must help me.
Vous devez m'aider.
shall, will
French future tense
I shall/will help you.
Je vous aiderai.
He will arrive at noon.
Il arrivera à midi.
should/ought
devoir (conditional)
I should/ought to leave soon.
Je devrais partir bientôt.
You should/ought to help me.
Vous devriez m'aider.
would (present)
French conditional
We would like to leave.
Nous voudrions partir.
I would help you if I were ready.
Je vous aiderais si j'étais prêt.
would (past)
French imperfect
He would always read when he was alone.
Il lisait toujours quand il était seul.
Last year, I would sleep until noon every day.
L'année dernière, je dormais jusqu'à midi tous les jours.
English modals may be followed by have + past participle to express
perfect (completed) actions. Translating this construction usually involves conjugating a French
verb into a perfect tense/mood + infinitive.
could have
pouvoir (conditional perfect)
I could have helped you.
J'aurais pu vous aider.
We could have eaten.
Nous aurions pu manger.
may/might have
peut-être, se pouvoir
I may/might have done it.
Je l'ai peut-être fait.
Il se peut que je l'aie fait.
must have
devoir (present perfect [passé composé])
You must have seen it.
Vous avez dû le voir.
He must have eaten.
Il a dû manger.
shall/will have
French future perfect
I shall/will have eaten.
J'aurai mangé.
He will have arrived by noon.
Il sera arrivé pour midi.
should have
devoir (conditional perfect)
You should have helped.
Vous auriez dû aider.
We should have eaten.
Nous aurions dû manger.
would have
French conditional perfect
I would have helped you.
Je vous aurais aidé.
He would have eaten it.
Il l'aurait mangé.
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