Verbs + Prepositions
Spoken Description
Apprenez à associer verbes et prépositions françaises grâce à des exemplesconcrets, des exercices interactifs et des astuces pour améliorer la fluidité et réduire les erreurs courantes en contexte.
Learn to pair French verbs and prepositions with real-life examples, interactive exercises, and tips to improve fluency and reduce common errors in context.
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In French certain verbs consistently pair with specific prepositions and the choice affects whether you use an infinitive or a noun. This guide covers the most common verbs with their typical prepositions and examples.
Verbs + à
Verbs that express helping, teaching, playing, or turning to someone often take à before an infinitive or noun.
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| aider à | to help to | |
| commencer à | to begin to | |
| apprendre à | to learn to | |
| jouer à | to play (a game or sport) | |
| s'habituer à | to get used to |
Peux-tu m'(to help) préparer le dîner ce soir ?
Can you help me prepare dinner tonight?
(to help)
Verbs + de
Verbs that involve stopping, trying, forgetting, or reminding tend to use de before an infinitive or noun.
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| arrêter de | to stop (doing) | |
| essayer de | to try to | |
| oublier de | to forget to | |
| décider de | to decide to | |
| se souvenir de | to remember to / of |
Elle a décidé(to stop) fumer après la naissance de son bébé.
She decided to stop smoking after the birth of her baby.
(to stop)
Verbs + sur
Some verbs that relate to relying, counting, or agreeing use sur when referring to someone or something.
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| compter sur | to count on | |
| se fier sur | to rely on | |
| miser sur | to bet on | |
| parier sur | to wager on |
Tu peux(to count on) moi pour t'aider demain.
You can count on me to help you tomorrow.
(to count on)
Verbs + pour
Verbs that express aiming, paying, or hoping often take pour when indicating a purpose or beneficiary.
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| payer pour | to pay for | |
| remercier pour | to thank for | |
| postuler pour | to apply for | |
| opter pour | to choose / opt for |
Je vais(to pay for) le déjeuner aujourd'hui.
I will pay for lunch today.
(to pay for)
Expressions with de + infinitive
After certain expressions that show desire, necessity, or obligation you typically use de plus an infinitive.
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| avoir besoin de | to need to | |
| avoir envie de | to want to | |
| avoir peur de | to be afraid to | |
| décider de | to decide to | |
| éviter de | to avoid |
J'ai besoin(to need to) faire les courses cet après-midi.
I need to do the shopping this afternoon.
(to need to)
Verbs followed directly by an infinitive
Some verbs are followed directly by an infinitive with no preposition when expressing desire, ability, or intention.
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| vouloir | to want | |
| pouvoir | to be able to | |
| devoir | to have to / must | |
| savoir | to know how to | |
| aimer | to like / to love |
Je veux(to want) apprendre le piano cette année.
I want to learn the piano this year.
(to want)
Summary
Learn common verbs with their typical prepositions à*, *de*, *pour*, *sur and pay attention to whether an infinitive or noun follows. Practice sentences so the patterns become automatic.
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