11.2.1

Perfect Infinitive

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The Perfect Infinitive Using Avoir

The perfect infinitive translates as 'to have done something'. It's formed by using the infinitive of 'avoir' followed by a past participle. Only verbs that use 'avoir' in the perfect tense use 'avoir' here.

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ER verbs

  • Je regrette d'avoir oublié vos chaussures.
    • I regret having forgotten your shoes.
  • Après avoir déjeuné, je suis allé à Londres.
    • After having eaten lunch, I went to London
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IR verbs

  • Ne le jetez pas avant d'avoir fini.
    • Please don't throw it away until you have finished.
  • Je regrette d'avoir vomi hier soir.
    • I regret having thrown up last night.
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RE verbs

  • Je suis triste d'avoir perdu mon portable.
    • I am sad to have lost my phone.
  • Je regrette d'avoir vendu ma voiture.
    • I regret having sold my car.

The Perfect Infinitive Using Être

The perfect infinitive translates as 'to have done something'. It's formed by using the infinitive of 'être' followed by a past participle. Only verbs that use 'être' in the perfect tense use 'être' here.

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ER verbs

  • Après être allé à Paris, je n'avais pas envie de rentrer à Manchester.
    • After having gone to Paris, I didn't want to go back to Manchester.
  • Je regrette d'être monté dans ce bus.
    • I regret having got on this bus.
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IR verbs

  • Après être sorti hier soir, je suis très fatigué aujourd'hui.
    • After having gone out last night, I am very tired today.
  • Je regrette d'être parti tôt hier.
    • I regret having left early yesterday.
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RE

  • Après être descendu sous le pont, il n'est pas revenu.
    • After having gone below deck, he hasn't come back.
  • Après être descendu derrière les montagnes, l'avion a disparu.
    • After having gone down behind the mountains, the plane disappeared.

Jump to other topics

1The Changing Nature of Family

2The 'cyber-society'

3The Place of Voluntary Work

4Diverse Society

5The Marginalised

6How Criminals Are Treated

7A Culture Proud of its Heritage

8Cinema: the 7th Art Form

9Demonstrations, strikes – who holds the power?

10Politics & Immigration

11Conjugation & Use of Tenses

11.1Present Tense

11.2Perfect Tense

11.3Imperfect Tense

11.4Future Tense

11.5Conditional Tense

11.6Future Perfect Tense

11.7Conditional Perfect Tense

11.8Pluperfect Tense

12Extra Grammar

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