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Falloir (to be necessary / to need) in 5 tenses

VERBS

Objectifs de la leçon

1. to learn about the verb falloir (to be necessary, to need)
2. to learn how to conjugate this verb in various tenses: présent (present), passé composé (past perfect), futur (future), imparfait (imperfect), conditionnel (conditional)

Niveau

B2 - niveau indépendant (upper intermediate)

Introduction

Falloir, mostly known in its form il faut, is an irregular verb belonging to the 3rd group.

It is an impersonal verb, which means it can only be conjugated in one form: the third person singular il.

It can be followed by:

• an infinitive: il faut manger avant midi (it is necessary to eat before midday)
• que + subjunctive: il faut que nous mangions avant midi (we have to eat before midday)
• a noun: il faut du chocolat pour faire un gâteau au chocolat (we need chocolate to make a chocolate cake)

Présent

- Qu'est-ce qu'il vous faut ?
What do you need?

- Il faut que tu manges avant midi.
You have to eat before midday.

Passé composé

- Il a fallu que tu manges avant midi.
You had to eat before midday.

Futur

- Il faudra que tu manges avant midi.
You will have to eat before midday.

Imparfait

- Il fallait que tu manges avant midi.
You had to eat before midday.

Conditionnel

- Il faudrait que tu manges avant midi.
You should eat before midday.