8.12.3
Verbs Governing An Infinitive
Verbs Governing An Infinitive
Verbs Governing An Infinitive
Some French verbs are followed directly by an infinitive. This means the verb in its basic form without conjugation.


Infinitive
Infinitive
- The infinitive is the base form of a verb, like manger (to eat).
- The infinitive is not conjugated.
- The infinitive often follows another verb.
- The infinitive ends in '-er', '-ir', or '-re' in French.
- Je veux manger.


Verbs that govern an infinitive
Verbs that govern an infinitive
- Some verbs are followed directly by an infinitive.
- vouloir - to want
- pouvoir - to be able
- aimer - to like/love
- devoir - must
- préférer - to prefer


Using verbs with infinitives
Using verbs with infinitives
- The subject of the first verb does the action of the infinitive.
- The infinitive stays the same after the governing verb.
- Nous aimons chanter.
- We like to sing.


Common phrases with verbs + infinitive
Common phrases with verbs + infinitive
- Il faut travailler dur.
- It is necessary to work hard.
- Vous préférez regarder un film?
- Do you prefer to watch a film?
- Ils aiment jouer au football.
- They like to play football.
1Everyday Activities
1.1Time Expressions
1.2Food & Drink
1.3The Human Body & Health
2Personal & Social Life
2.1Self, Family & Friends
2.2In the Home
2.4Clothes & Accessories
3The World Around Us
3.1People & Places
3.2Natural World, Environment, Climate & Weather
3.3Communications & Technology
3.4The Built Environment
3.5Measurements
3.6Materials
4The World of Work
4.1Education
5The International World
6Common Tenses
6.1Present Tense
6.1.1Regular ER Verbs
6.1.2Regular IR Verbs
6.1.3Regular RE Verbs
6.1.4Reflexive Verbs
6.1.5Irregular ER Verbs (1/2)
6.1.6Irregular ER Verbs (2/2)
6.1.7Irregular IR Verbs (1/2)
6.1.8Irregular IR Verbs (2/2)
6.1.9Irregular RE Verbs (1/3)
6.1.10Irregular RE Verbs (2/3)
6.1.11Irregular RE Verbs (3/3)
6.1.12Present Participle (1/2)
6.1.13Present Participle (2/2)
6.1.14Irregular Present Participles
6.1.15Avoir & Être
6.1.16'Depuis' + Present Tense
6.1.17'Venir De' + Present Tense
6.2Perfect Tense
6.3Imperfect tense
6.4Imperfect vs Perfect
7Advanced Tenses
7.1Conditional Tense
8Extra Grammar
8.1Articles
8.2The Passive Voice
8.3Pronouns
8.3.1Personal Pronouns (1/2)
8.3.2Personal Pronouns (2/2)
8.3.3Reflexive Pronouns
8.3.4Direct Object Pronouns: Le, La, Les, L'
8.3.5Direct Object Pronouns: Agreement
8.3.6Direct Object Pronouns: Imperative
8.3.7Indirect Object Pronouns: Lui, Leur
8.3.8DO & IO Pronouns: Combination
8.3.9Demonstrative Pronouns
8.3.10Neutral Demonstrative Pronouns
8.3.11Interrogative Pronouns
8.3.12Relative Pronouns
8.3.13Possessive Pronouns
8.3.14Indefinite Pronouns
8.3.15Ça, Cela
8.3.16Celui
8.3.17Emphatic Pronouns
8.4Asking Questions
8.5Nouns
8.7Adverbs
8.8Adjectives
8.9Negative
8.10Conjunctions
8.11Miscellaneous
Jump to other topics
1Everyday Activities
1.1Time Expressions
1.2Food & Drink
1.3The Human Body & Health
2Personal & Social Life
2.1Self, Family & Friends
2.2In the Home
2.4Clothes & Accessories
3The World Around Us
3.1People & Places
3.2Natural World, Environment, Climate & Weather
3.3Communications & Technology
3.4The Built Environment
3.5Measurements
3.6Materials
4The World of Work
4.1Education
5The International World
6Common Tenses
6.1Present Tense
6.1.1Regular ER Verbs
6.1.2Regular IR Verbs
6.1.3Regular RE Verbs
6.1.4Reflexive Verbs
6.1.5Irregular ER Verbs (1/2)
6.1.6Irregular ER Verbs (2/2)
6.1.7Irregular IR Verbs (1/2)
6.1.8Irregular IR Verbs (2/2)
6.1.9Irregular RE Verbs (1/3)
6.1.10Irregular RE Verbs (2/3)
6.1.11Irregular RE Verbs (3/3)
6.1.12Present Participle (1/2)
6.1.13Present Participle (2/2)
6.1.14Irregular Present Participles
6.1.15Avoir & Être
6.1.16'Depuis' + Present Tense
6.1.17'Venir De' + Present Tense
6.2Perfect Tense
6.3Imperfect tense
6.4Imperfect vs Perfect
7Advanced Tenses
7.1Conditional Tense
8Extra Grammar
8.1Articles
8.2The Passive Voice
8.3Pronouns
8.3.1Personal Pronouns (1/2)
8.3.2Personal Pronouns (2/2)
8.3.3Reflexive Pronouns
8.3.4Direct Object Pronouns: Le, La, Les, L'
8.3.5Direct Object Pronouns: Agreement
8.3.6Direct Object Pronouns: Imperative
8.3.7Indirect Object Pronouns: Lui, Leur
8.3.8DO & IO Pronouns: Combination
8.3.9Demonstrative Pronouns
8.3.10Neutral Demonstrative Pronouns
8.3.11Interrogative Pronouns
8.3.12Relative Pronouns
8.3.13Possessive Pronouns
8.3.14Indefinite Pronouns
8.3.15Ça, Cela
8.3.16Celui
8.3.17Emphatic Pronouns
8.4Asking Questions
8.5Nouns
8.7Adverbs
8.8Adjectives
8.9Negative
8.10Conjunctions
8.11Miscellaneous
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