Hello, It seems I am there are not many people looking at this topic currently..my question is on conjugation the example of "J'avais dû" where it can

Kyombo C.C1Kwiziq community member

Hello, It seems I am there are not many people looking at this topic currently..my question is on conjugation the example of "J'avais dû" where it can


Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Kyombo, 

The expression 'j'avais dû' means I had had to do something but rather the contraction of the first 'had' in English ---> I'd had to ...

In French, we use the verb 'devoir' in the pluperfect for 'to have had to do something.

To use other forms:

Nous avions dû  partir à 4h du matin We'd had to leave at 4 am

Elle avait dû quitter son travail à 15h She'd had to leave her work at 3 pm

Ils avaient dû quitter la France en vitesse = They'd had to leave France in a hurry

 

Hope it helps!

 

c f.C1Kwiziq community member

I'm not getting the "I'd had ... " as "I had had ... "  

The English contraction of "I'd" is usually for "I would" not for "I had had ..."

As in "I'd go if I could"  --- "I would go if I could"  not "I had go if I could" 

Does that make sense to English speakers out there?

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi C,

Having double-checked the contraction of I'd can be either I had or I would -

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/I%27d

Hello, It seems I am there are not many people looking at this topic currently..my question is on conjugation the example of "J'avais dû" where it can


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