Devais (en. Had to)

/devɛ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicate an obligation or necessity in the past.

I had to finish my report yesterday.

Je devais terminer mon rapport hier.

Express a promise or commitment that was not fulfilled.

He was supposed to come to my party, but he didn't.

Il devait venir à ma fête, mais il ne l'a pas fait.

Represent an expectation or forecast in the past.

We were supposed to leave at 8 o'clock, but we were delayed.

Nous devions partir à 8 heures, mais nous avons eu un retard.

From Old French 'devoir', derived from Latin 'debere' meaning 'to have to, to owe'.

I had to do it.

I had an obligation to do it.

je devais le faire

He was supposed to be there.

It was expected that he would be present.

il devait être là

We were supposed to talk.

It was necessary for us to have a conversation.

nous devions parler

devoir

to commit to doing something.

devoir

devenu

that has changed state or condition.

devenu

devant

in front of, in the presence of.

devant

It was a must.

Too late, but I really had to be there.

Trop tard, mais je devais vraiment être là.

A thing you have to do.

At the time, I had to do it, no choice.

À l'époque, je devais le faire, pas le choix.