French infinitives are the base form of verbs, equivalent to "to eat," "to go," "to be" in English. They end in -er, -ir, or -re, and are used to express actions in a general sense, not tied to a specific subject or tense.
- Infinitives: parler (to speak), finir (to finish), attendre (to wait)
- Not conjugated: no subject, no tense
French infinitives cover all verbs in their neutral, original form, making them essential for...
- Learning new verbs (just learn the infinitive!)
- Using verbs after certain words (can, want, need, after prepositions)
- Building compound verb forms (with auxiliary verbs)
When to Use Infinitives
1. After Certain Verbs
Some verbs are directly followed by an infinitive when you express desires, plans, or abilities.
- Can, want, need, like, hope, try + [infinitive]:
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vouloir + | To want to | Je veux partir. (I want to leave.) |
| Pouvoir + | Can/May + | Il peut venir. (He can come.) |
| Aimer + | Like to | Nous aimons nager. (We like to swim.) |
No conjugation after these helper verbs—just use the infinitive.
The correct infinitives are 'parler,' 'finir,' and 'attendre.'
2. After Prepositions
When a verb comes after a preposition, it’s almost always in the infinitive form.
- Common prepositions: à, de, pour, sans, avant de
| Preposition | Example (Fr) | Example (En) |
|---|---|---|
| à | Je commence à lire. | I begin to read. |
| de | Il décide de partir. | He decides to leave. |
| pour | C’est important de réussir. | It’s important to succeed. |
Important: After avant, use avant de + infinitive.
Infinitives are correct after prepositions like 'avant de', 'pour', and 'après' (with auxiliary).
3. As a Subject or Object
The infinitive can act like a noun (verbal noun), and be used as a subject or object of a sentence.
- Subject: Apprendre est important. (Learning is important.)
- Object: J’aime voyager. (I like to travel.)
Yes, the infinitive can act as a noun and be the subject.
4. For Instructions or Signs
Infinitives are used for commands or instructions on signs, manuals, recipes.
- Ne pas fumer. (Do not smoke.)
- Appuyer sur le bouton. (Press the button.)
Infinitive Endings and Examples
French verbs fall into three groups based on their infinitive endings:
| Ending | Verb Type | Example Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -er | 1st group (regular) | Parler | To speak |
| -ir | 2nd group (regular) | Finir | To finish |
| -re | 3rd group (regular/irregular) | Attendre | To wait |
The correct infinitive endings are -er, -ir, and -re.
Example Sentences
| Use | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| After verb (want) | Je veux dormir. | I want to sleep. |
| After preposition | Elle pense à voyager. | She thinks about traveling. |
| As subject | Faire du sport est sain. | Doing sports is healthy. |
| Instruction | Ouvrir la porte. | Open the door. (Instruction) |
Use infinitives after certain verbs, after prepositions, as subject/object, and for instructions.
Conclusion
French infinitives are versatile and essential for expressing ideas about actions in a general, flexible way.
- Use infinitives after key verbs (vouloir, pouvoir, aimer) and prepositions (à, de, pour).
- Infinitives can also function as nouns, becoming the subject or object of a sentence.
Mastering infinitives is a major step toward fluency!
- Provide original French infinitive verbs and translations.
- Explain why infinitives are used instead of conjugated verbs after some verbs and prepositions.
- Create sample sentences demonstrating infinitives after a verb, after a preposition, as a subject, and in an instruction.