French Infinitive: 'L'infinitif'

What Is the Infinitive of a Verb and How Is It Used?

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The infinitive is the basic, unconjugated form of a verb, sometimes called the name of the verb. In English, the infinitive is the word "to" followed by a verb: "to talk," "to see," "to return." The French infinitive is a single word with one of the following endings: -er, -ir, or -re: parler, voir, rendre. We usually learn French verbs in the infinitive, since that is what you start with to conjugate them.

The French infinitive can be used in several different ways without any conjugation. Note that it is often translated as the English present participle. Read on to learn different uses of the infinitive of verbs.

As a Noun (the Subject or Object of a Sentence)

  • Voir, c'est croire. –> Seeing is believing.
  • Apprendre le japonais n'est pas facile. –> Learning Japanese isn't easy.

After a Preposition

  • Il essaie de te parler. –> He is trying to talk to you.
  • C'est difficile à croire. –> It's hard to believe.
  • Sans être indiscret... –> Without meaning to pry...

See Verbs With Prepositions.

After a Conjugated Verb

  • J'aime danser. –> I like to dance.
  • Nous voulons manger. –> We want to eat.
  • Je fais laver la voiture (causative) –> I'm having the car washed.

See the Lesson on Dual-Verb Constructions.

In Place of the Imperative for Impersonal Commands (As in Instructions or Warnings)

  • Mettre toujours la ceinture de sécurité. –> Always wear (your) seatbelt.
  • Ajouter les oignons à la sauce. –> Add the onions to the sauce.

In Place of the Subjunctive

When the Main Clause Has the Same Subject as the Subordinate Clause

  • J'ai peur que je ne réussisse pas OR J'ai peur de ne pas réussir. –> I'm afraid of not succeeding.
  • Il est content qu'il le fasse. OR Il est content de le faire. –> He's happy to be doing it.

When the Main Clause Has an Impersonal Subject (If the Subject Is Implied)

  • Il faut que vous travailliez. OR Il faut travailler. –> It's necessary to work (for you to work).
  • Il est bon que tu y ailles. OR Il est bon d'y aller. –> It's good to go (for you to go).

Word Order With the Infinitive

Word order with the infinitive is a bit different from conjugated verbs: everything goes directly in front of the infinitive.

Pronouns

Object pronounsreflexive pronouns, and adverbial pronouns always precede the infinitive.

  • Tu dois y aller. –> You have to go (there).
  • Fermer la fenêtre OR La fermer. –> Close the window OR Close it.
  • Il faut te lever. –> You must get up.

Negative Adverbs

Both parts of the negative adverb precede the infinitive.

  • Ne pas ouvrir la fenêtre. –> Don't open the window.
  • Ne jamais laisser un enfant seul. –> Never leave child unattended.

The negative adverb precedes any pronouns:

  • Ne pas l'ouvrir. –> Don't open it.
  • Ne jamais le laisser seul. –> Never leave him unattended.
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Team, ThoughtCo. "French Infinitive: 'L'infinitif'." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/french-infinitive-linfinitif-1368866. Team, ThoughtCo. (2023, April 5). French Infinitive: 'L'infinitif'. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-infinitive-linfinitif-1368866 Team, ThoughtCo. "French Infinitive: 'L'infinitif'." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/french-infinitive-linfinitif-1368866 (accessed March 28, 2024).