It is absolutely essential to understand and be able to use these three irregular French verbs, as they are very common as well as useful. They are often taught together because of the similarities in the conjugations of vouloir and pouvoir and the uses of pouvoir and devoir.
After looking over this lesson, see how well you do on the quiz.
| Vouloir - to want | Pouvoir - can, to be able to | Devoir - must, to have to | |
| Je veux danser avec toi. I want to dance with you. |
Je peux danser avec toi. I can dance with you. |
Je dois danser avec toi. I have to dance with you. |
|
| Voulez-vous parler ? Do you wish to speak? |
Pouvez-vous parler ? Can you speak? |
Devez-vous parler ? Do you need to speak? |
|
| je | veux | peux | dois |
| tu | veux | peux | dois |
| il | veut | peut | doit |
| nous | voulons | pouvons | devons |
| vous | voulez | pouvez | devez |
| ils | veulent | peuvent | doivent |
| Conjugations in all tenses | Conjugations in all tenses | Conjugations in all tenses | |
| Using vouloir | Using pouvoir | Using devoir | |
| Expressions with vouloir | Expressions with pouvoir | Devoir vs Falloir |
