poder, voler, saber, dever + Infinitive

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

Level 2

Poder, voler, saber and dever take a second verb in the infinitive, with no word between them.

How It Works

These four verbs often work as helpers. The first one changes with the person, and the second one stays in the infinitive.

VerbMeaningExample
volerto wantVolèm aprene l'occitan. (We want to learn Occitan.)
poderto be ablePòdes venir? (Can you come?)
saberto know howSabi pas nadar. (I cannot swim.)
devermustDevi partir deman. (I must leave tomorrow.)

Nothing goes between the two verbs. Do not write Vòli a manjar or Vòli de manjar. Write Vòli manjar.

To say that you do not do it, put pas after the first verb: Podèm pas venir (We cannot come).

Examples (5)

  1. Volèm aprene l'occitan.

    We want to learn Occitan.

    Volèm plus an infinitive.

  2. Sabi pas nadar.

    I cannot swim.

    Sabi pas plus an infinitive.

  3. Pòdes venir amb nosautres?

    Can you come with us?

    Pòdes plus an infinitive.

  4. Devi partir deman.

    I must leave tomorrow.

    Devi plus an infinitive.

  5. Maria vòl pas dormir.

    Maria does not want to sleep.

    Pas goes after the first verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a word between the two verbs

    Vòli a manjar.
    Vòli manjar.

    Voler takes the infinitive directly, with no a or de.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

poder, voler, saber, dever + InfinitiveLevel 2Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

Learn This First

Voler, poder, saber and dever are followed by an infinitive, so the presents of voler, poder and saber come first, and dever works the same way.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

podervolersaberdever