French Phrase
Je dois changer ma réservation.
Meaning
Literally, “I have to change my reservation.” The speaker is stating a personal obligation to modify a booking that has already been made, whether it’s for a hotel, a flight, a restaurant, or any other service that requires a reservation.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need to inform a receptionist, a travel agent, or a friend that you must alter the details of a reservation you previously confirmed. It works in both formal (calling a hotel) and informal (talking to a roommate) contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jedoischangermaréservation.
Subject pronoun (Je)
The first‑person singular pronoun used before a verb; it never changes form.
Modal verb devoir (dois)
Doit is the present‑tense form of devoir for ‘je’; it expresses obligation or necessity.
Infinitive after devoir (changer)
When devoir is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive.
Possessive adjective (ma)
‘Ma’ agrees with the feminine noun that follows; it means ‘my’.
Noun gender (réservation)
‘Réservation’ is a feminine noun, so the possessive adjective is ‘ma’ and the article would be ‘la’ if used.
🗨In Conversation
Je dois changer ma réservation.
I have to change my reservation.
Pas de problème, je m'en occupe tout de suite.
No problem, I’ll take care of it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Je doit changer ma réservation.
‘Doit’ is the third‑person singular form; with ‘je’ you must use ‘dois’.
Je dois changerai ma réservation.
After ‘devoir’ the second verb stays in the infinitive, not the future tense.
Je dois changer mon réservation.
If you use the masculine ‘mon’, it would be incorrect because ‘réservation’ is feminine.
↔Alternatives
Il faut que je modifie ma réservation.
I need to modify my reservation.
Je veux changer ma réservation.
I want to change my reservation.
Je dois réviser ma réservation.
I have to revise my reservation.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries it’s considered courteous to call the place you booked as soon as you know you need a change, and to give the reservation number. Using polite formulas such as “Excusez‑moi” or “Pardon” before the request makes the interaction smoother, especially in formal settings like hotels or airlines.