je devais

had to, was supposed to

→ devoir

verb · first singular · imperfect indicative Rare #23,809

had to, was supposed to Imperfect tense (je/tu): used for an ongoing past obligation or something you were supposed to do.

FR: Je devais partir tôt, mais j’ai raté le bus.

EN: I had to leave early, but I missed the bus.

Conjugation of devoir

devoir

Indicative imperfect

	Singular	Plural
First	devais	—
Second	devais	deviez
Third	devait	—

Je leur devais deux milles.

I owed them two thousand.

— Drive (2011)

Je me devais d'accueillir mon témoin.

I had to welcome my witness.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Tu as fait ce que tu devais.

You did what you had to.

Je le devais.

I had to.

Je t'en devais une.

I owed you one.

— Black Panther (2018)

L'argent que j'ai pris, souviens-toi, tu me le devais !

The money I took, remember, you owed me!

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Je lui ai remboursé l'argent que je lui devais.

I paid back the money I owed him/her.

Si je devais aller à l'étranger, je choisirais la France.

If I were to go abroad, I would choose France.

Je devais.

I had to.

Je te devais un téléphone, mais t'as pas précisé le modèle.

I owed you a phone, but you didn’t specify the model.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Pourquoi tu lui as dit ton nom, tu devais pas !

Why did you tell him your name? You shouldn't have!

— Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Si je devais être très en retard, ne bouge pas d'ici.

If I were to be very late, don't move from here.

— La vie est belle (1997)

Je me devais d'accepter ce poste.

I had to accept this position.

— Piège de cristal (1988)

Je ne voulais pas travailler tard mais le patron m'a dit que je le devais.

I didn't want to work late, but my boss told me I had to.

J'ai fait ce que je devais.

I did what I had to.

auxiliary · first singular · imperfect indicative Rare #27,631

had to Imperfect of « devoir » used to talk about an obligation in the past (ongoing/habitual/background).

FR: Je devais partir tôt ce matin.

EN: I had to leave early this morning.

Conjugation of devoir

Indicative imperfect

	Singular	Plural
First	devais	—
Second	devais	—
Third	devait	devaient

Je ne devais jamais ni le montrer ni le donner.

I was never to show it or give it away.

— Le Château dans le ciel (1986)

Que devais-je faire ?

What should I do?

Je t'avais dit que tu ne devais pas le faire.

I told you that you weren't supposed to do it.

Tu ne devais pas te rendre au Palais ?

Weren't you supposed to go to the Palace?

— Le Château ambulant (2004)

Ne devais-je pas le connaître ?

Wasn't I supposed to know him?

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Je ne devais pas y aller.

I wasn't supposed to go there.

Tu ne devais pas faire ça.

You shouldn't have done that.

— Moscou ne croit pas aux larmes (1980)

Ne devais-tu pas la protéger ?

Shouldn't you have protected her?

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : Les Deux Tours (2002)

Elle a dit que tu ne devais plus venir chez nous.

She said you shouldn't come to our place anymore.

— Les Bonnes étoiles (2022)

Mais je ne devais pas être un très bon acteur.

But I must not have been a very good actor.

— Une journée particulière (1977)

Tu ne devais pas reprendre le domaine ?

Weren't you supposed to take over the estate?

— Caché (2005)

Sire, je me devais de vous frapper.

Sire, I had to strike you.

— Hero (2002)