Modal Verbs + Infinitive: devoir, pouvoir, vouloir

This structure is surprisingly simple. It follows a "1 + 1" rule. You take one conjugated modal verb and pair it with one infinitive (the basic "to" form of a verb). Think of the modal verb as the boss. It does all the hard work. It changes its form to match the person talking (I, you, we). The second verb? It's on vacation. It stays in its original, unchanged form.

For example, in English, we say "I want to eat." In French, it is Je veux manger. Je veux is the conjugated boss. manger is the lazy infinitive. It’s a beautiful system because once you learn the conjugation of the "Big Three," you can use them with any verb in the French dictionary. It’s like a grammar hack that unlocks thousands of sentences overnight. Yes, even native speakers find this combination the most efficient way to communicate complex thoughts without the headache of complex tenses. It’s like a grammar traffic light: the modal gives you the signal (go, stop, or wait), and the infinitive tells you which way to drive.

1. 1To build these sentences, follow these three steps:
2. 2Pick your modal verb based on what you want to say (want, can, or must).
3. 3Conjugate that modal verb to match your subject (the person doing the action).
4. 4Add your main action verb in its infinitive form (ending in -er, -ir, or -re).
5. 5Let’s look at the present tense conjugations for our stars. They all follow a "boot" pattern where the "we" and "you (plural)" forms look a bit more like the original infinitive, while the others change stems.
6. 6Vouloir (To Want): je veux, tu veux, il/elle/on veut, nous voulons, vous voulez, ils/elles veulent.
7. 7Pouvoir (Can/To be able to): je peux, tu peux, il/elle/on peut, nous pouvons, vous pouvez, ils/elles peuvent.
8. 8Devoir (To have to/Must): je dois, tu dois, il/elle/on doit, nous devons, vous devez, ils/elles doivent.
9. 9Pro tip: The je, tu, and il forms usually sound exactly the same! French loves to keep you on your toes with silent endings.

You will use this pattern almost every time you speak. Here are the most common real-world scenarios:

• Ordering Food: Use vouloir to express what you want. Je veux un café is fine, but Je veux commander (I want to order) uses our infinitive pattern.
• Asking for Favors: Use pouvoir for ability or permission. Peux-tu m'aider ? (Can you help me?). It’s the polite way to not do everything yourself.
• Setting Appointments: Use devoir for obligations. Je dois partir à huit heures (I have to leave at 8:00). This is the verb you use when you need to sound like a busy professional.
• Job Interviews: You might say Je peux parler trois langues (I can speak three languages). It sounds much more impressive than just listing the languages.

Don't get too modal-crazy! You don't need a modal verb if you are just stating a direct action.

• The Direct Action: If you are actually eating, just say Je mange. You don't need Je veux manger unless you are still hungry and waiting for your food.
• The Double Modal: In English, we sometimes say "I might want to." In French, stacking too many modals can get messy for a beginner. Stick to one modal and one infinitive for now.
• The Missing Link: Never put a small word like "to" (à or de) between these three modals and the infinitive. They are close friends; they don't need a middleman. It is NOT Je veux à manger. It is just Je veux manger.

We all make them, and that's okay! Here are the ones to watch out for:

• The Double Conjugation: This is the #1 mistake. People try to conjugate both verbs. Je veux mange ✗ is wrong. It’s like saying "I want eats." Keep that second verb in the infinitive: Je veux manger ✓.
• Spelling the "X" and "T": For vouloir and pouvoir, the endings are x, x, t. For devoir, it’s s, s, t. Don't mix them up!
• Forgetting the Stem Change: The nous and vous forms are the "stable" ones. They keep the voul-, pouv-, and dev- sounds. The other forms get a bit wild with veu-, peu-, and doi-.
• Pronunciation: Remember that the ent in veulent, peuvent, and doivent is totally silent. If you pronounce it, a French baguette might weep somewhere.

You might notice this looks like the Futur Proche (Near Future). In that pattern, we use aller (to go) + infinitive, like Je vais manger (I am going to eat). The logic is the same: Conjugated Verb + Infinitive. The only difference is the meaning. While aller talks about the future, our modal verbs talk about the *mood* or *necessity* of the action.

Another similar look-alike is aimer + infinitive (I like to...). J'aime danser follows the same grammar rule. Once you master modals, you've actually mastered a whole family of French structures. You're basically a grammar architect now.