Il faut = it is necessary
Il faut partir
Il faut expresses necessity: it's necessary, you have to, we need to. It comes from the verb falloir, which only exists with the impersonal subject il.
Il faut + infinitive
- Il faut partir.We/You have to leave.
- Il faut manger des légumes.You have to eat vegetables.
- Il faut réserver.You need to book.
The person is implied by context. To make it explicit, use an indirect pronoun:
- Il me faut partir.I have to leave. (more formal)
Il faut + noun: it takes, you need
- Il faut du temps.It takes time.
- Il me faut un stylo.I need a pen.
- Il faut trois heures pour aller à Lyon.It takes three hours to get to Lyon.
Negative: il ne faut pas = must not
- Il ne faut pas toucher.You mustn't touch.
- Il ne faut pas fumer ici.You mustn't smoke here.
Il ne faut pas means must not, not "don't have to". For "you don't have to", say ce n'est pas la peine de or tu n'es pas obligé de.
Other tenses
- il fallait (imparfait), il a fallu (passé composé), il faudra (future), il faudrait (conditional: one should)
- Il faudrait appeler le médecin.We should call the doctor.
Il faut que + subjunctive
To say who has to do something: Il faut que tu partes. See Subjunctive after necessity and wishes.
Practice
- We have to leave.Options: Il faut partir. · Il faut partons. · Nous faut partir.
Show the answer
Il faut partir.
- You mustn't touch.Options: Il ne faut pas toucher. · Il faut ne toucher pas. · Il ne faut toucher.
Show the answer
Il ne faut pas toucher.
- It takes two hours.Options: Il faut deux heures. · Il fait deux heures. · Il prend deux heures.
Show the answer
Il faut deux heures.
- Il _____ de la patience.
Show the answer
faut
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.