Pouvoir and Vouloir: To Be Able To and To Want

Pouvoir (to be able to) and vouloir (to want) are two very useful verbs that share common features but also differ in many ways. Let’s explore what the similarities and differences are in this lesson.

Pouvoir and vouloir are the only two irregular verbs ending in -eux in the first-person singular of the indicative. We have je veux (I want) and je peux (I can). Let’s look at the verb vouloir first. Vouloir can be followed by a noun, as shown in Zaz's song simply titled "Je veux":

Je veux de l'amour, de la joie, de la bonne humeur.

I want love, joy, good humor.

Caption 63, Français avec Nelly 12 Songs to Improve Your French - Part 1

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Vouloir can also be followed by a verb in the infinitive. In her song, Zaz uses the colloquial expression je veux crever (I want to croak):

Moi, je veux crever

Me, I want to croak

Caption 65, Français avec Nelly 12 Songs to Improve Your French - Part 1

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So far so good. However, when vouloir is followed by a subordinate clause, je veux que + verb (I want + verb), you will need to use the subjunctive mood. It pays to become familiar with this tricky grammatical structure, as it is very common in French: 

Je veux que mon ami comprenne.

I want my friend to understand.

Caption 39, Français avec Nelly 25 Phrases for Mastering Everyday Conversation - Part 2

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Speaking of the subjunctive mood, do you recognize this form of the verb vouloir, veuillez? 

This is vouloir in the second-person plural (vous) subjunctive, but it's also a very formal way of saying “please." (For other ways of saying "please," check out this lesson.) The expression veuillez + verb (please + verb) is often used in court settings, for example:

Veuillez vous présenter à la barre s'il vous plaît.

Please take the stand.

Caption 23, Le Jour où tout a basculé À l'audience: Détournement d'argent dans le couple ? - Part 3

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Now let's move on to pouvoir, "to be able to." Just as in English, it can only be followed by a verb, and often comes in the form of a question: Est-ce que je peux + verb (can I + verb)?

Est-ce que je peux au moins le rencontrer ?

Can I at least meet him?

Caption 26, Extr@ Ep. 9 - Du boulot pour Sam et Nico! - Part 4

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Now, there is a more formal and less common alternative to est-ce que je peux, which is puis-je. This comes from an antiquated version of je peux, je puis. You may form your question starting with puis-je + verb, equivalent to “may I...?” (Interestingly, you can NEVER say peux-je, only puis-je.) You can use puis-je (may I) when approaching a stranger, for example:

Puis-je vous demander à quelle heure est votre rendez-vous?

May I ask you what time your appointment is?

Caption 8, Le saviez-vous? Conversation entre étrangers

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Incidentally, the subjunctive form of je peux/je puis is que je puisse (that I might/could). Once again, this construction is very common so it would pay to become familiar with it:

Il t'est pas venu à l'esprit que je puisse être dans ma chambre

It didn't occur to you that I could be in my room

Caption 75, Mère & Fille "Distraite", "La fille idéale", "Inquiète", "Zenitude"

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There you have it! Now vous pouvez utiliser pouvoir et vouloir si vous voulez (you can use pouvoir and vouloir if you want). Thank you for reading!