Learn French: Le client doit signer ce document aujourd'hui. - The client has to sign this document today.

Le client doit signer ce document aujourd'hui.

The client has to sign this document today.

Breakdown of Le client doit signer ce document aujourd'hui.

this (before a noun)

le client

the client / the customer

Questions & Answers about Le client doit signer ce document aujourd'hui.

Why is signer not conjugated here?

When you use devoir with another action, only the first verb (doit) is conjugated to match the subject. The second verb stays in its full, unchanged dictionary form (signer), which is called the infinitive.

The translation says "has to", but could doit also mean "must"?

Yes! The French verb devoir covers both "to have to" and "must". Le client doit signer can be translated as "The client has to sign" or "The client must sign". French doesn't make a grammar distinction between the two like English does.

Why is the verb spelled doit and not dois?

Doit is the form of devoir used for "he", "she", or "it" (il, elle, on). Since Le client is a singular third-person noun (acting like "he"), we use doit. You would use dois for "I" (je) and "you" (tu).

Why do we use ce for "this document"?

Ce means "this" or "that" when placed in front of a masculine singular noun like document. If the noun were feminine, you would use cette, and if it were a masculine noun starting with a vowel, you would use cet.