Devait

Jennifer C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Devait

I have an extract from a book i am reading. In this extract does devait mean must have. Can you explain Lorsqu’il a su que c’est au tabagisme ininterrompu de sa mère que Camille devait le handicap de sa petite taille, Armand a été troublé.
Asked 8 years ago
LauraNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer
Bonjour Jennifer,

No, devoir has another meaning "to owe" which is in play here: " ... that Camille owed the handicap ..." More idiomatically, you might turn the whole sentence around and say "Camille's handicap was due to ..."
Jennifer C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Bonjour Laura, Merci bien. Un ah ha moment Jennifer

Devait

I have an extract from a book i am reading. In this extract does devait mean must have. Can you explain Lorsqu’il a su que c’est au tabagisme ininterrompu de sa mère que Camille devait le handicap de sa petite taille, Armand a été troublé.

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