| A | B |
|---|
| tu PEUX partir | you CAN (MAY) leave |
| tu POURRAS partir | you WILL BE ABLE TO leave |
| Nous etions toujours trop occupes. nous ne POUVIONS jamais parler | We were always too busy; we COULD never talk |
| Nous N'AVONS PAS PU parler hier soir/ nous n'avons pas eu le temps. | We COULDN'T talk last night; we didn't have the time |
| Si tu venais, on pourrait parler | If you CAME we could talk |
| Si tu etais venu, on AURAIT PU parler | If you had come, we COULD HAVE talked |
| je VOUDRAIS un bonbon | I WOULD LIKE a candy. |
| Je VOULAIS partir | I WANTED to leave |
| J'ai VOULU partir | I TRIED to leave |
| Je N'AI PAS VOULU partir | I REFUSED to leave |
| VOULOIR BIEN | to be WILLING |
| Je VEUX BIEN partir | I'm WILLING to do it |
| Je VOUDRAIS BIEN partir | I WOULD (REALLY) LIKE to leave. |
| Je vous DOIS des excuses | I OWE you and applogy |
| Il me DEVAIT dix dollars | He OWED me ten dollars |
| Il DOIT partir | He MUST leave of he is SUPPOSED TO LEAVE |
| Il DOIT etre malade | He MUST be sick |
| Il A DU partir | he HAD TO LEAVE or he MUST HAVE left |
| Il DEVAIT partir aujourd'hui | he WAS SUPPOSED TO leave today |
| Il DEVRAIT partir | He SHOULD (OUGHT TO) leave |
| Il AURAIT DU partir | He SHOULD HAVE left |
| Present (indicatif) | obligation or probability |
| pase compose | obligation or probablility |
| imparfait | supposition or obligation |
| conditional present | suggested obligation or advice |
| conditional passe | unfulfilled obligation or reproach |
