Présentpresent
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | faut |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Irregular verbs in the present
Conjugation of falloir
- Meaning to be necessary
- Level A2
- Pattern irregular
- Auxiliary avoir
What is special about this verb
- Irregular participle: fallu. → Irregular past participles
- Used almost only in the third person: faut.
Bold and underlined: the ending. ◆ marks a form that breaks the rule.
Indicative
Imparfaitongoing or habitual past
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | fallait |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Imperfect (imparfait)
Passé simpleliterary past
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | fallut |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Passé simple: reading the narrative tense
Futur simplefuture
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | faudra |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Simple future (futur simple)
Passé composéperfect
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | a fallu |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Passé composé with avoir · Passé composé with être
Plus-que-parfaitpast perfect
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | avait fallu |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Pluperfect (plus-que-parfait)
Futur antérieurfuture perfect
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | aura fallu |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Future perfect (futur antérieur)
Conditional
Conditionnel présentconditional
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | faudrait |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: The conditional
Conditionnel passéconditional perfect
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | aurait fallu |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: The conditional
Subjunctive
Subjonctif présentpresent subjunctive
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | faille |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: Subjunctive: the forms
Subjonctif passéperfect subjunctive
| je (j’) | |
|---|---|
| tu | |
| il/elle/on | ait fallu |
| nous | |
| vous | |
| ils/elles |
More on this: The subjunctive in the past
Non-finite forms
Infinitif et participesinfinitive, gerund, participle
| infinitif | falloir |
|---|---|
| participe présent | |
| participe passé | fallu |
More on this: Irregular past participles · The gérondif: en parlant
Example sentences from the course
Every sentence comes from this course’s word lists or grammar topics. The verb form is highlighted, and the line below says which tense and person it is.
Il faut de la patience.You need patience.
faut — Présent · il/elle/on
Il faudrait dormir davantage.We ought to sleep more.
faudrait — Conditionnel présent · il/elle/on
Tôt ou tard, il faudra trancher.Sooner or later somebody will have to take responsibility.
faudra — Futur simple · il/elle/on
Il a fallu dévitaliser la molaire.The molar had to be root-treated.
fallu — participe passé
Il fallait qu’il fût présent.He had to be present.
fallait — Imparfait · il/elle/on · The subjunctive in the past
Il faut écrire au syndic.We shall have to write to the managing agent.
faut — Présent · il/elle/on
Quick practice
5 gaps, first from the example sentences above, then from the table. Every answer counts towards your reviews.
Keep going
Verbs with the same pattern
Related grammar topics
The forms are calculated from the rules of the language — twice, in two independent ways — and checked against every hand-written form in this course. The example sentences are the course’s own.