French Phrase
Je dois le lire ?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the speaker is required to read something that has already been mentioned. It combines the verb ‘devoir’ (to have to) with a direct‑object pronoun ‘le’ and the infinitive ‘lire’ (to read). The question mark signals that the speaker is seeking confirmation or clarification of the obligation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to confirm an assignment, a rule, or a request that involves reading a specific text, article, or document. It is common in classrooms, workplaces, or any situation where a reading task has been assigned.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jedoislelire?
Subject pronoun
‘Je’ is the first‑person singular subject pronoun meaning ‘I’.
Verb devoir
‘dois’ is the present‑tense form of ‘devoir’, which expresses obligation or necessity.
Direct object pronoun
‘le’ replaces a masculine singular noun that has already been mentioned (e.g., le livre, le texte).
Infinitive after devoir
When ‘devoir’ is followed by another verb, the second verb stays in the infinitive (here, ‘lire’).
Question intonation
Adding a rising intonation or a question mark after a declarative sentence turns it into a spoken question.
🗨In Conversation
Je dois le lire ?
Do I have to read it?
Oui, c’est obligatoire pour demain.
Yes, it’s mandatory for tomorrow.
✕Common Mistakes
Je dois lire le ?
The object pronoun must come before the infinitive, not after it.
Je le dois lire ?
The verb ‘devoir’ and the pronoun cannot be separated by the infinitive.
Je dois le lire.
Without a rising intonation or a question mark, the sentence becomes a statement: ‘I have to read it.’
↔Alternatives
Dois‑je le lire ?
Do I have to read it?
Est‑ce que je dois le lire ?
Is it that I have to read it?
Faut‑il que je le lise ?
Do I need to read it?
Cultural Tip
In spoken French, the most natural way to ask this question is the intonation‑based form ‘Je dois le lire ?’. The inverted form ‘Dois‑je le lire ?’ sounds more formal or written. Using ‘faut‑il que…’ introduces the subjunctive (lise) and adds a slightly stronger sense of necessity. Remember that ‘devoir’ can also convey a moral obligation, so the nuance may shift depending on context.