Present of dever
Dever (must, to owe) is irregular in the present: devi, deves, deu, devèm, devètz, devon.
How It Works
Dever means must when an infinitive follows it, and to owe when a noun follows it.
| Who | dever |
|---|---|
| ieu | devi |
| tu | deves |
| el, ela | deu |
| nosautres | devèm |
| vosautres | devètz |
| eles, elas | devon |
The only irregular form is the third person singular, deu, with no ending. The stem is dev- in the other forms.
Devi partir means I must leave. Devi un cafè a Maria means I owe Maria a coffee.
Like poder and voler, dever is followed by an infinitive with no word between. When nobody in particular must do it, Occitan also has cal: Cal partir (One has to leave).
Examples (5)
- Devi partir.
I must leave.
Devi plus an infinitive means must.
- Deves dormir.
You must sleep.
Deves: the tu form.
- Maria deu trabalhar uèi.
Maria must work today.
Deu: the third person has no ending.
- Devèm anar a l'escòla.
We must go to school.
Devèm: the stress is on the ending.
- Devi un cafè a Maria.
I owe Maria a coffee.
Devi plus a noun means owe.
Common Mistakes
Using the Spanish form
Maria debe partir.Maria deu partir.Debe is Spanish. In Occitan the third person is deu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Dever uses the same endings as the -re present, so that present comes first.
Related Patterns
- poder, voler, saber, dever + InfinitiveVerbs Followed by an Infinitive
Dever takes a second verb in the infinitive.
Level 2 - calNecessity with Cal
Cal also says that something must be done.
Level 2 - Present of voler
Voler is another verb that takes an infinitive.
Level 2 - Present of poder
Poder is another verb that takes an infinitive.
Level 2 - The Infinitive
The verb after dever is an infinitive.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Present of dever in Bubblegum
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