Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb falloir

Introduction to the verb falloir

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The English translation of the French verb falloir is “to be necessary” or “to be needed”. It is pronounced as “fah-lwahr” in its infinitive form.

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Falloir comes from the Old French verb “faillir” which means “to be lacking” or “to fail”. It is most often used in everyday French as an impersonal verb, meaning it is used with the pronoun “il” and is conjugated in the third person singular form. It is usually followed by the preposition “de” and an infinitive verb.

Examples:

Il faut partir maintenant. – It is necessary to leave now.
Il me faut du lait pour faire le gâteau. – I need milk to make the cake.
Il ne faut pas oublier d’éteindre les lumières en partant. – It is important not to forget to turn off the lights when leaving.

Only return the response: The French verb falloir means “to be necessary” or “to be needed”. It is most often used in everyday French as an impersonal verb, followed by the preposition “de” and an infinitive verb. For example, “Il faut partir maintenant” means “It is necessary to leave now.”

Falloir – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of falloir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	il faut	Il faut que je parte maintenant.	I need to leave now.
tu	il faut	Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs.	You need to do your homework.
il	il faut	Il faut qu’il vienne avec nous.	He needs to come with us.
elle	il faut	Il faut qu’elle mange plus de légumes.	She needs to eat more vegetables.
on	il faut	Il faut qu’on aille au cinéma.	We need to go to the movies.
nous	il nous faut	Il nous faut de l’aide pour ce projet.	We need help for this project.
vous	il vous faut	Il vous faut réserver une table au restaurant.	You need to reserve a table at the restaurant.
ils	il leur faut	Il leur faut parler plus fort.	They need to speak louder.
elles	il leur faut	Il leur faut plus de temps pour terminer.	They need more time to finish.