Perfect Infinitive
French: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 6.2.8
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Perfect Infinitive
How do you say 'to have started' in French?
Which of the following is NOT in the perfect infinitive?
How do you say 'having fallen' in French?
How do you say 'having died' in French?