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French grammar

CEFR A1-A2

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French Modal Verbs: pouvoir, vouloir, devoir, savoir

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 11 October 2026

French has four everyday modal verbs: (can), (want), (must) and (know how to). Each takes a plain infinitive straight after it. They are irregular; their present tense is also on French irregular verbs.

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

pouvoir, savoir or connaître? Choose the verb that fits.

  1. I can swim (I know how). Je nager.

  2. I know Paris well. Je bien Paris.

  3. Can I come in? Je entrer ?

The whole system on one screen

VerbExampleEnglish
.I can come.
?Do you want to eat?
.We must leave.
.She can swim.
polite .I'd like a coffee.
negative .I can't come.

The present: one stem for je, another for nous

All four switch stem between and . Three of them ("boot" verbs) go back to the vowel for .

je-type stemnous-type stemsavoir (a skill)What do the colours mean?
Personpouvoir (can)vouloir (want)
Persondevoir (must)savoir (know)

is the odd one out: keeps the stem.

  • . - They can come.
  • . - They can read.

The modal is conjugated; the second verb stays in the infinitive, with no or between them. In the negative, ... wraps the modal:

Subject
ne
Modal
pas
Infinitive
empty
empty
  • . - I can come.
  • . - I can't come.
  • . - He doesn't want to eat.

An object pronoun goes before the infinitive it belongs to:

  • . - I want to see him.

pouvoir and savoir: two kinds of can

English "can" covers two French verbs. is a skill you have learned; is being able, or allowed, right now.

UseFrenchEnglish
learned skill .I can swim.
possible now .I can't swim today.
permission ?Can I come in?
request ?Can you help me?

savoir and connaître: two kinds of know

knows facts and skills. knows people, places and things you are familiar with.

VerbFrenchEnglish
.I know where he lives.
.I know the truth.
Marie.I know Marie.
.I know well.

A quick test: if a clause follows (, , ), it is .

vouloir: je veux or je voudrais

is fine with friends and blunt in a shop. To ask politely, use the conditional (I would like).

BluntPolite
  1. je veux
  2. je voudrais
  • ? - Do you want a coffee? (to a friend)
  • , . - I'd like a coffee, please.

means "to mean":

  • ? - What does that mean?

devoir: must, probably and owe

MeaningFrenchEnglish
.I must leave.
probability .He must be tired.
owing .I owe you ten .
advice .You should sleep.

The advice form, , is the conditional; (I could) works the same way: ? - Could you help me?

In the past

In the the modals shift meaning slightly:

  • . - I had to leave.
  • . - I couldn't come.

The full set ( , I found out; , I tried) is on passé composé vs imparfait.

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
. .No preposition after a modal
. .No preposition after
Marie. Marie.People take
.... wraps the modal

What to do next

  1. Say one sentence with each modal about today: , , , .
  2. Order your next coffee with .
  3. Then: French irregular verbs and negation.

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

0/5

pouvoir, savoir or connaître? Choose the verb that fits.

  1. I can swim (I know how). Je nager.

  2. I know Paris well. Je bien Paris.

  3. Can I come in? Je entrer ?

  4. I know where he lives. Je où il habite.

  5. Do you know Marie? Tu Marie ?

Put the words in order

0/4

Put the words in order. Ne...pas wraps the modal.

  1. I can't come.

    Your sentence is empty.

  2. He doesn't want to eat.

    Your sentence is empty.

  3. We don't have to leave.

    Your sentence is empty.

  4. I'd like a coffee, please.

    Your sentence is empty.

Build the word

0/4

Build the form from its stem and ending.

  1. nous + vouloir

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  2. ils + vouloir

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  3. vous + devoir

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  4. ils + devoir

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

Spot the mistake

0/4

Tap the mistake.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the modal verbs in French?
(can, may), (want), (must, have to) and (know how to). All four are irregular, and all four are followed directly by an infinitive: , , , . ( ) does a similar job but only in the form.
What is the difference between and ?
is a skill you have learned; is being able or allowed right now. means I can swim, I know how. means I can't swim today, perhaps because the pool is shut. English says can for both.
Is it rude to say in French?
In a shop or , sounds blunt, like 'I want' in English. Use the conditional (I would like): , . Among friends, ? is perfectly normal.
Where does ... go with or ?
Around the modal, the conjugated verb: (I can't come), (he doesn't want to eat). The infinitive stays outside. can wrap an infinitive too, but that changes the meaning: means I'm allowed not to come.
What does mean besides must?
Three things. Obligation: (I must leave). Probability: (he must be tired). And, with a noun, owing: euros (I owe you ten euros). In the conditional it gives advice: (you should sleep).