Fallait-il (en. Was it necessary)

/fa.lɛ.i.t il/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

adjective

Interrogative form of the verb 'falloir', used to ask if it was necessary to do something.

Should we really have arrived so early?

Fallait-il vraiment arriver si tôt ?

Expresses doubt about the necessity of something in the past.

Should I have come to the meeting?

Fallait-il que je vienne à la réunion ?

Used to remind of a past obligation.

Should I remind you of this appointment?

Fallait-il que je te rappelle ce rendez-vous ?

Formed from 'fallait', the imperative form of the verb 'falloir', and the interrogative pronoun 'il'.

Should we have taken an umbrella?

A question about the necessity of taking an umbrella.

Fallait-il prendre un parapluie ?

Should we have informed him?

A question about the obligation to inform someone.

Fallait-il l'informer ?

Shouldn't it have been done?

Questioning an action that should have been done.

Ne fallait-il pas le faire ?

falloir

Verb that expresses a necessity or an obligation.

falloir

devoir

Verb that expresses an obligation.

devoir

necessary

Something that must be done or is essential.

nécessaire

Were we obligated?

Should we have told him it was false?

Fallait-il lui dire que c'était faux ?

Was it really necessary?

Did it require that much preparation?

Fallait-il tant de préparations ?