8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-1

Infinitives

—Je ne veux rien voir passer!

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-2

• An infinitive can follow many conjugated verbs directly. To negate the conjugated verb, place ne… pas (jamais, etc.) around it.

Infinitives

aimer to like to

compter to expect to

croire to believe to be (doing something)

désirer to want to

détester to hate to

écouter to listen to

entendre to hear

devoir to have to/must

espérer to hope to

laisser to allow to

oser to dare to

paraître to seem to

penser to intend to

pouvoir to be able to/can

préférer to prefer to

prétendre to claim to

regarder to watch

savoir to know how to

sembler to appear to

souhaiter to wish to

venir to come to

voir to see

vouloir to want to

Nous comptons obtenir des billets.We’re expecting to get tickets.

Il ne prétend pas être un fan de l’équipe.He doesn’t claim to be a fan of the team.

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-3

Infinitives

ATTENTION!

Remember that aller + [infinitive] describes actions occurring in the near future and venir de + [infinitive] describes actions that have or had just occurred.

Ils vont marquer un but!They’re going to score a goal!

Il venait de fêter son 100e anniversaire quand il est mort.He had just celebrated his 100th birthday when he died.

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-4

• Many verbs are used with a preposition, usually à or de, before the infinitive.

Les meilleurs athlètes arrivent à finir la course.The best athletes manage to run the whole race.

Ils n’oublient jamais de siffler pendant le match.They never forget to whistle during the game.

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-5

• Remember to place any pronouns before either the conjugated verb or the infinitive, depending on which one they are the objects of. Do not contract the prepositions à and de with the direct object pronouns le and les.

Je l’ai entendue chanter une fois.I heard her sing once.

Tu n’oublieras pas de le faire.You won’t forget to do it.

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-6

• To negate an infinitive after a conjugated verb, place both ne and pas directly before the infinitive. Place ne and pas directly before any pronouns that accompany the infinitive.

Le prof a décidé de ne pas venir.The teacher decided not to come.

Vous préférez ne pas leur en parler?You prefer not to speak to them about it?

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-7

• Impersonal expressions of the type Il est… + [adjective] are followed by de + [infinitive] to describe a general opinion. Il faut… and Il vaut mieux… can be followed directly by an infinitive to express obligation.

Il est important de faire de la gym.It is important to work out.

Il faut se détendre après le travail.One has to relax after work.

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-8

• Some verbs usually take an indirect object before de + [infinitive]. Such verbs include commander, conseiller, demander, dire, permettre, promettre, and suggérer.

Maman lui a demandé d’acheter des épinards.Mom asked him to buy spinach.

Nous leur permettons de rentrer à onze heures.We let them come home at 11 o’clock.

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-9

• The present participle can act as the subject of a verb in English, but in this case French uses the infinitive.

Être un enfant n’est pas toujours facile.Being a child is not always easy.

Voir, c’est croire.Seeing is believing.

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-10

• The infinitive is often used to give instructions or commands, as in recipes or on public signs.

Mettre au four pendant 15 minutes.Put in the oven for 15 minutes.

Ne pas toucher!Do not touch!

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-11

• The past infinitive is formed with the infinitive of avoir or être plus the past participle of the verb. The past infinitive is often used with après.

Après avoir crié pendant deux heures au match, j’avais mal à la gorge.After shouting for two hours at the game, my throat hurt.

Hier soir, ils ont décidé de voir une pièce après être sortis.Last night, they decided to see a play after going out.

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-12

• A past participle used with the past infinitive agrees just as it would if the helping verb were conjugated. Place object pronouns before the helping verb.

On n’aimait plus la comédie après l’avoir vue cinq fois.We didn’t like the comedy any more after seeing it five times.

Après s’être promenée sous la pluie, elle a attrapé un rhume.After walking in the rain, she caught a cold.

Infinitives

8.1

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 8.1-13

• Use an infinitive instead of the subjunctive when there is no change of subject between clauses or with impersonal expressions that have a general meaning and no true subject.

Infinitives

Subjunctive: subject change between clauses

Infinitive: no subject changebetween clauses

Papa désire que nous allions à la plage.Dad wants us to go to the beach.

Stéphanie et Lionel préfèrent que leurs enfants ne regardent pas trop la télévision.Stéphanie and Lionel prefer that their children do not watch too much television.

Il vaut mieux qu’elle mette un anorak pour faire du ski.She should wear a parka to go skiing.

Papa désire aller à la plage.Dad wants to go to the beach.

Stéphanie et Lionel préfèrent ne pas trop regarder la télévision.

Stéphanie and Lionel prefer to not watch too much television.

Il vaut mieux mettre un anorak pour faire du ski.It’s best to wear a parka to go skiing.