Verbs linked directly to an infinitive
In French, certain verbs (like vouloir, pouvoir, and aller) connect directly to a second verb in its infinitive form. Unlike English, which often uses 'to' (I want to go), French uses no preposition at all for these specific verbs.
How It Works
The bare infinitive pattern is a fundamental structure in French where the governing verb and the infinitive act as a single unit of meaning.
1. Common Verb Categories:
- Modality & Necessity: vouloir (to want), pouvoir (can), devoir (must), savoir (to know how), and the impersonal il faut (it is necessary).
- Motion: aller (to go), venir (to come to do something), courir (to run). Note: 'venir' + infinitive expresses purpose, unlike 'venir de' which expresses the recent past.
- Perception: voir (to see), entendre (to hear), sentir (to feel).
- Preference: aimer (to like), préférer (to prefer), détester (to hate).
- Causation: faire (to make/cause), laisser (to let).
2. Word Order and Pronouns:
The placement of object pronouns depends on the main verb:
- For Modals, Motion, and Preference verbs, place the pronoun before the infinitive (e.g., Je veux le voir).
- For Causative (faire/laisser) and Perception verbs, place the pronoun before the conjugated verb (e.g., Je le fais travailler or Je le vois venir).
3. Negation:
- To negate the main action, ne...pas wraps around the conjugated verb (e.g., Je ne peux pas venir).
- To negate only the infinitive action, 'ne pas' stays together before the infinitive (e.g., Je préfère ne pas manger).
Examples (6)
- Je dois finir mes devoirs avant ce soir.
I must finish my homework before tonight.
Word by Word: I must to-finish my homeworks before this evening.
The verb 'devoir' (must) is a modal verb that takes a bare infinitive directly.
- Il faut manger pour vivre.
It is necessary to eat to live.
Word by Word: It must to-eat for to-live.
The impersonal verb 'il faut' always takes a bare infinitive to express necessity.
- Je le vois venir de loin.
I see him coming from afar.
Word by Word: I him see to-come from far.
With perception verbs like 'voir', the object pronoun 'le' moves before the conjugated verb, not the infinitive.
- Elle préfère ne pas sortir ce soir.
She prefers not to go out tonight.
Word by Word: She prefers not to-go-out this evening.
To negate only the infinitive, 'ne pas' stays together immediately before it.
- Il veut nous inviter au restaurant.
He wants to invite us to the restaurant.
Word by Word: He wants us to-invite to-the restaurant.
For preference verbs like 'vouloir', the pronoun 'nous' is placed before the infinitive 'inviter'.
- Tu sais nager ?
Do you know how to swim?
Word by Word: You know to-swim?
When 'savoir' means 'to know how to', it takes a bare infinitive.
Common Mistakes
Adding 'de' or 'à' because of English influence.
Je veux de partir.Je veux partir.English speakers often translate 'to' as 'de' or 'à', but verbs like 'vouloir' connect directly to the infinitive.
Misplacing object pronouns with modal versus causative verbs.
Je fais le travailler.Je le fais travailler.While pronouns go before the infinitive for most verbs (Je veux le faire), they must go before the conjugated verb for 'faire', 'laisser', and perception verbs like 'voir'.
Conjugating both verbs.
Je peux parle français.Je peux parler français.Only the first verb is conjugated to match the subject; the second verb must remain in the infinitive form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use verbs linked directly to an infinitive, you must first know how to conjugate the common modal-like verbs (vouloir, pouvoir, devoir) in the present tense. These conjugated verbs act as the 'anchor' for the following infinitive.
- pouvoir (présent)Irregular Verb Pouvoir (Can/to Be Able to)
The pattern 'Verbs + bare infinitive' relies on modal verbs like 'pouvoir' being conjugated in the present tense as the main verb.
Level 1 - devoir (présent)Irregular Verb Devoir (Must/to Have to)
The pattern 'Verbs + bare infinitive' relies on modal verbs like 'devoir' being conjugated in the present tense as the main verb.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Verb + à + InfinitiveVerbs Linked to an Infinitive by a
Many other French verbs require the preposition 'à' to link to an infinitive, unlike the bare infinitive verbs.
Level 2 - Verb + de + InfinitiveVerbs Linked to an Infinitive by De
This is the most common way to link verbs, using 'de' instead of a direct connection.
Level 2 - Object pronouns before an infinitive
Explains the specific rules for where to put 'le, la, les' when a bare infinitive is present.
Level 2 - aller + InfinitiveNear Future with Aller + Infinitive
A specific and very common use of the bare infinitive pattern using the verb 'aller'.
Level 1 - venir de + InfinitiveRecent Past with Venir De
Contrast this with the bare infinitive; adding 'de' after 'venir' changes the meaning from motion to the recent past.
Level 1 - faire + InfinitiveMaking Someone Do Something with Faire + Infinitive
A specialized use of the bare infinitive to express making someone do something.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- devoir (obligation / probabilité)Devoir: Obligation or ProbabilityLevel 2
- pouvoir (capacité / permission)Pouvoir: Ability or PermissionLevel 2
- après + Past InfinitiveAfter Doing Something with Apres + Past InfinitiveLevel 3
- être en train deProgressive Aspect with Etre En Train DeLevel 3
- laisser + InfinitiveLetting Someone Do Something with Laisser + InfinitiveLevel 3
- Using an infinitive as the subjectLevel 4
- Passive infinitive after a modalLevel 4
- avoir beau + InfinitiveDespite Trying with Avoir BeauLevel 4
And 4 more in the full list.
Practice Verbs linked directly to an infinitive in Bubblegum
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