devoir, le devoir
A semi-auxiliary verb is used before another verb to express tense, mood, aspect, etc. (e.g., Je vais manger.).
semi-auxiliary verb
a. to have to
Stella doit ranger sa chambre avant de pouvoir jouer aux jeux vidéo.Stella has to clean her room before she can play video games.
b. must
Vous devez vous reposer pendant quelques jours après l'opération.You must rest for a few days after the operation.
a. to need
Je dois trouver quelqu'un pour m'aider à réviser avant l'examen.I need to find someone to help me study before the exam.
b. to have to
Tu es malade depuis deux jours. Tu dois aller voir un médecin !You've been sick for two days. You have to go see a doctor!
a. must
Vous devez être très fatigués après votre long trajet.You must be very tired after your long drive.
b. should
J'ai laissé un message vocal à la comptable. Elle devrait nous rappeler bientôt.I left the accountant a voicemail. She should call us back soon.
a. to be to
C'était son destin, Paul devait rencontrer cette personne un jour.It was his destiny; Paul was to meet that person one day.
b. to be bound to
L'homme a commis tellement de vols qu'il devait se faire arrêter à un moment donné.The man committed so many thefts that he was bound to get arrested at some point.
a. should
Le frigo ne devrait pas faire ce bruit. Il y a un problème !The fridge shouldn't make this noise. There's a problem!
b. to be supposed to
On doit éteindre notre téléphone portable au cinéma.You're supposed to turn off your cell phone at the movie theater.
a. should
Nous devrions nous coucher tôt ce soir pour être en forme demain.We should go to bed early tonight to feel good tomorrow.
b. ought to
Vous devriez voir un médecin pour votre douleur au genou.You ought to see a doctor about your knee pain.
a. to be supposed to
Cécile est partie tôt ce matin. Elle doit arriver à midi.Cécile left early this morning. She's supposed to arrive at noon.
b. to be due to
Les étudiants doivent passer leur examen final en juin.The students are due to take their final exam in June.
c. should
C'est une petite fuite. Le plombier devrait avoir terminé dans une heure.It's a small leak. The plumber should be done in an hour.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., acheter).
transitive verb
a. to owe
Simon doit deux mois de loyer à son propriétaire.Simon owes his landlord two months of rent.
a. to owe
Tu ne crois pas que tu me dois une explication ?Don't you think you owe me an explanation?
a. to owe
Laëtitia doit beaucoup à ses parents qui ont financé ses études.Laëtitia owes a lot to her parents, who paid for her studies.
b. to be indebted
L'acteur doit son succès à son agent.The actor is indebted to his agent for his success.
a. to owe
Lionel doit son entêtement à son père.Lionel owes his stubbornness to his father.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., l’homme, le soleil).
masculine noun
a. duty
Voter n'est pas obligatoire en France, mais c'est un devoir civique.Voting is not mandatory in France, but it is a civic duty.
b. obligation
Avons-nous un devoir moral de prendre soin de nos parents ?Do we have a moral obligation to take care of our parents?
a. homework
Si vous faites tous vos devoirs, vous aurez une bonne note.If you do all your homework, you'll get a good grade.
b. assignment
On a un devoir de maths à faire pendant les vacances d'hiver.We have a math assignment to do over winter break.
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