Infinitives and perfect infinitivesUsing infinitives

Infinitives are used throughout the French language.

An infinitive is a verb taken directly from the dictionary in its original form, ie ending in -er, -ir, -re meaning ‘to...’

A verb in the infinitive normally follows:

1. As a second verb, eg:

• je vais aller - I’m going to go
• je dois faire - I have to do

2. A modal verb – pouvoir, devoir, vouloir. For example:

• je peux faire mon lit - I am able to make my bed
• il devait prendre son petit déjeuner - he had to have his breakfast

3. Verbs taking the preposition à, such as apprendre à:

• nous apprenons à danser - we are learning to dance

4. Verbs taking the preposition de, such as refuser de:

• je refuse d’aller au travail ! – I refuse to go to work!

5. Certain prepositions, such as pour, sans, au lieu de, avant de (for/without/instead of/before):

• pour aller à la gare, s’il vous plaît ? - how do you get to the station, please?
• j’y vais en autobus au lieu de marcher - I’m going there by bus instead of walking

Verbs commonly followed by an infinitive

Examples:

• il aime chanter - he likes to sing
• j’espère aller à l’universitée l’année prochaine – I hope to go to uni next year
• je sais parler français - I know how to speak French