Conjugating "Falloir" in French: A Guide to This Impersonal Verb

The impersonal verb "falloir" is essential in French, expressing necessity or need. Let's explore its conjugation and usage to enhance your French language skills.

Understanding "Falloir"

"Falloir" is an impersonal verb, meaning it's only used in the third person singular form. It's generally translated as "to be necessary" or "to need to".

Present Tense

In the present tense, "falloir" is conjugated as:

• Il faut (It is necessary)

Example:

• Il faut étudier pour réussir l'examen. (It's necessary to study to pass the exam.)

Other Common Tenses

Passé Composé

• Il a fallu (It was necessary)

Imparfait

• Il fallait (It was necessary / used to be necessary)

Futur Simple

• Il faudra (It will be necessary)

Conditional

• Il faudrait (It would be necessary)

Using "Falloir" with Infinitives

"Falloir" is often followed by an infinitive:

• Il faut manger des légumes. (It's necessary to eat vegetables.)

"Falloir" with "Que" + Subjunctive

When specifying who needs to do something, use "que" followed by the subjunctive:

• Il faut que tu viennes demain. (It's necessary that you come tomorrow.)

Practical Examples

• Il faut que nous partions maintenant. (We need to leave now.)
• Il faudra acheter du pain. (We'll need to buy bread.)
• Il aurait fallu prévenir plus tôt. (We should have warned earlier.)

Understanding "falloir" allows you to express necessity and obligation in French, a crucial skill for effective communication.