B1 French GrammarInfinitive vs Gerund
Master when to use the infinitive and the present participle (gérondif) in French. Learn which verbs are followed by direct infinitive, à + infinitive, or de + infinitive. Understand the gérondif (en + present participle) for expressing simultaneous actions or manner. Essential for natural French expression.
1Verbs + Direct Infinitive
Many common French verbs are followed directly by an infinitive without a preposition. These include modal verbs (pouvoir, vouloir, devoir), perception verbs (voir, entendre), and verbs of movement (aller, venir). Example: Je veux partir (I want to leave). Je dois travailler (I must work).
Verbs + Direct Infinitive
| Category | Verb | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modal | pouvoir | Je peux partir. | I can leave. |
| Modal | vouloir | Il veut manger. | He wants to eat. |
| Modal | devoir | Tu dois étudier. | You must study. |
| Perception | voir | Je le vois arriver. | I see him arriving. |
| Movement | aller | Elle va venir. | She's going to come. |
Examples
Je sais nager depuis l'âge de cinq ans.
I've known how to swim since age five.
savoir + direct infinitive
Nous aimons voyager en été.
We like to travel in summer.
aimer + direct infinitive
Elle préfère travailler seule.
She prefers to work alone.
préférer + direct infinitive
Je l'entends chanter sous la douche.
I hear him/her singing in the shower.
entendre + direct infinitive
2Verbs + À + Infinitive
Some verbs require à before an infinitive. Common ones include: apprendre à (learn to), commencer à (begin to), réussir à (succeed in), hésiter à (hesitate to), s'habituer à (get used to). The à must not be omitted: J'apprends à danser (I'm learning to dance).
Verbs + À + Infinitive
| Verb | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| apprendre à | to learn to | J'apprends à conduire. | I'm learning to drive. |
| commencer à | to begin to | Il commence à pleuvoir. | It's starting to rain. |
| réussir à | to succeed in | J'ai réussi à finir. | I managed to finish. |
| aider à | to help to | Il m'aide à comprendre. | He helps me understand. |
| s'habituer à | to get used to | Je m'habitue à vivre ici. | I'm getting used to living here. |
Examples
Elle a commencé à pleurer.
She started to cry.
commencer à + infinitive
Je t'invite à dîner ce soir.
I'm inviting you to dinner tonight.
inviter à + infinitive
Nous hésitons à partir sans lui.
We hesitate to leave without him.
hésiter à + infinitive
Il m'a encouragé à continuer.
He encouraged me to continue.
encourager à + infinitive
3Verbs + De + Infinitive
Many verbs take de before an infinitive. Common ones include: décider de (decide to), essayer de (try to), oublier de (forget to), refuser de (refuse to), arrêter de (stop). The de cannot be omitted: J'ai décidé de partir (I decided to leave).
Verbs + De + Infinitive
| Verb | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| décider de | to decide to | J'ai décidé de partir. | I decided to leave. |
| essayer de | to try to | J'essaie de comprendre. | I'm trying to understand. |
| oublier de | to forget to | J'ai oublié de fermer. | I forgot to close. |
| refuser de | to refuse to | Elle refuse de parler. | She refuses to speak. |
| arrêter de | to stop | Arrête de crier! | Stop shouting! |
Examples
Il a promis de venir.
He promised to come.
promettre de + infinitive
J'ai besoin de me reposer.
I need to rest.
avoir besoin de + infinitive
Elle a fini de manger.
She finished eating.
finir de + infinitive
Nous avons choisi de rester.
We chose to stay.
choisir de + infinitive
4The Gérondif (en + Present Participle)
The gérondif is formed with en + present participle (-ant form). It expresses simultaneous action: En travaillant, j'écoute de la musique (While working, I listen to music). It can also express manner or condition: Il a répondu en souriant (He answered smiling). The subject must be the same for both actions.
Gérondif Formation
| Infinitive | Nous Form | Gérondif | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| parler | parlons | en parlant | while speaking |
| finir | finissons | en finissant | while finishing |
| prendre | prenons | en prenant | while taking |
| être (irreg.) | - | en étant | while being |
| avoir (irreg.) | - | en ayant | while having |
Examples
Il est tombé en courant.
He fell while running.
en + ant = while -ing
En sortant, j'ai vu Marie.
While going out, I saw Marie.
gérondif at start of sentence
Elle a appris le français en regardant des films.
She learned French by watching films.
en + ant = by -ing (manner)
Tout en travaillant, il pensait à ses vacances.
While working, he was thinking about his vacation.
tout en = even while (emphasis)