Understanding the Verb Falloir
Meaning and Usage
Falloir is an impersonal verb, which means it is only used in the third person singular form. The most common way to see it is as il faut, which translates to “it is necessary,” “one must,” or “you need to.” It expresses necessity, obligation, or a general requirement rather than a personal action.
Common Constructions
- Il faut + infinitive: This construction expresses a general necessity or recommendation.
Example: Il faut étudier pour réussir. (You have to study to succeed.) - Il faut + noun: Used to indicate something is needed.
Example: Il faut du pain. (We need bread.) - Il faut que + subjunctive: When you want to specify that someone in particular must do something, use this structure.
Example: Il faut que tu viennes. (You have to come.)
Conjugation of Falloir
Since falloir is impersonal, you only need to know the third person singular forms:
- Present: il faut
- Imperfect: il fallait
- Future: il faudra
- Conditional: il faudrait
- Past participle: fallu
Example sentences:
- Il fallait partir tôt. (It was necessary to leave early.)
- Il faudra attendre. (We will have to wait.)
- Il aurait fallu prévenir. (You should have let us know.)
Mastering the Verb Valoir
Meaning and Usage
Valoir means “to be worth” or “to have value.” It is used to express the value of things, actions, or sometimes people. It can also be used idiomatically in expressions such as il vaut mieux (it is better).
Common Constructions
- Valoir + noun: Expresses the literal value or worth of something.
Example: Ce livre vaut dix euros. (This book is worth ten euros.) - Valoir la peine: Means “to be worth it.”
Example: Ça vaut la peine. (It’s worth it.) - Il vaut mieux + infinitive: Means “it’s better to…”
Example: Il vaut mieux partir tôt. (It’s better to leave early.)
Conjugation of Valoir
Unlike falloir, valoir is a regular verb that can be conjugated for all persons. Here are some key forms:
- Present: je vaux, tu vaux, il/elle vaut, nous valons, vous valez, ils/elles valent
- Imperfect: je valais, tu valais, il/elle valait, nous valions, vous valiez, ils/elles valaient
- Future: je vaudrai, tu vaudras, il/elle vaudra, nous vaudrons, vous vaudrez, ils/elles vaudront
- Conditional: je vaudrais, tu vaudrais, il/elle vaudrait, nous vaudrions, vous vaudriez, ils/elles vaudraient
- Past participle: valu
Example sentences:
- Combien cela vaut-il ? (How much is it worth?)
- Il a valu beaucoup à l’entreprise. (He was worth a lot to the company.)
- Ça aurait valu la peine. (It would have been worth it.)
Tips for Using Falloir and Valoir Like a Native
- Remember that falloir is always impersonal: only use “il”.
- Use valoir to talk about the value of things, but also to give advice with il vaut mieux.
- Practice set expressions, as they are common in everyday French.
- Listen to native speakers, for example through podcasts or with AI-powered tools like Talkpal, to get a sense of how these verbs are used in context.
Conclusion
Falloir and valoir are fundamental verbs for expressing necessity, obligation, and value in French. By understanding their meanings, conjugations, and typical constructions, you’ll be able to communicate more naturally and precisely. Don’t forget to practice regularly and check out resources such as the Talkpal AI language learning blog for more guidance and real-life examples. With dedication and the right tools, mastering these verbs is well within your reach!
