cal
Necessity with Cal
Cal says that something is needed or must be done, and it never changes for a person.
How It Works
Cal comes from the verb caler. It has no subject and no other persons. You use it only in the third person singular, and an infinitive follows it.
| When | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| now | cal | one must, one has to |
| in the past | caliá | one had to |
| later | calrà | one will have to |
Print also has caldrà for the future, and it is the more common spelling. This course gives the Vèrbòc form, calrà.
Cal dormir is general. It can mean you, we or everyone. To say who must do it, you add a pronoun, which you learn later: Me cal partir (I have to leave).
For a person who must do something, dever is also available: Devi partir (I must leave).
Examples (5)
- Cal dormir.
One must sleep.
Cal plus an infinitive.
- Cal partir.
We have to leave.
Cal says that it is needed, with no subject.
- Cal manjar plan.
One has to eat well.
Cal plus manjar, with plan after it.
- Cal beure d'aiga.
One must drink water.
Cal plus beure.
- Cal trabalhar uèi.
We have to work today.
Uèi says when.
Common Mistakes
Changing cal for the person
Calem partir.Cal partir.Cal never changes. It is always cal, whoever must leave.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Cal is followed by an infinitive, so the infinitive comes first.
Related Patterns
- Present of dever
Dever says that a person must do something.
Level 2 - poder, voler, saber, dever + InfinitiveVerbs Followed by an Infinitive
Cal also takes an infinitive.
Level 2 - aver besonh deNeeding Something
Aver besonh de says that someone needs something.
Level 3 - Subjunctive After cal que
Cal que takes the subjunctive, at a later level.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice cal in Bubblegum
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