The Infinitive - Other French Verb Forms - GCSE French Revision - BBC

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In this guide

  1. Revise
  2. Video
  3. Test
  1. The infinitive
  2. The imperative - giving instructions in French
  3. The imperative - practice questions
  4. Present participle - say 'while doing' in French
  5. The present participle - practice
  6. The passive voice - forming in different tenses
  7. The passive voice - using in a sentence
  8. The perfect infinitive - forming
  9. The perfect infinitive - using in a sentence
  10. The present subjunctive - Higher
  11. The present subjunctive - using in a sentence

The infinitive

How to use the infinitive

The infinitive is the basic, unconjugated form of a verb. In French, there are three main groups of infinitive endings:

  • -er such as manger (to eat).
  • -ir such as finir (to finish).
  • -re such as vendre (to sell)

The infinitive is usually translated in English as ‘to + verb’, but it can also be a verb without ‘to’, or a verb ending with ‘-ing’.

  • Je veux boire de l’eau. – I want to drink some water.
  • Tu peux ouvrir la fenêtre ? – Can you open the window?
  • Ils aiment lire. – They like reading.

Lots of common French verbs, used in any tense, are followed immediately by an infinitive.

aimerto likeJ’aime aller à la plage. - I like going to the beach.
détesterto hateNous détestons ranger notre chambre. - We hate tidying our rooms.
préférerto prefer toIl préférerait étudier à la bibliothèque. - He would prefer to study at the library.
devoirto have toVous devriez apprendre une nouvelle langue. - You should learn a new language.
pouvoirto be able toElles peuvent partir en vacances si elles veulent. - They can go on holiday if they want.
aimer
to like
J’aime aller à la plage. - I like going to the beach.
détester
to hate
Nous détestons ranger notre chambre. - We hate tidying our rooms.
préférer
to prefer to
Il préférerait étudier à la bibliothèque. - He would prefer to study at the library.
devoir
to have to
Vous devriez apprendre une nouvelle langue. - You should learn a new language.
pouvoir
to be able to
Elles peuvent partir en vacances si elles veulent. - They can go on holiday if they want.

Infinitives can also be the subject of a sentence, where in English a verb with ‘-ing’ would be used. For example:

  • Parler français est très utile. – Speaking French is very useful.
  • Manger des légumes est bon pour la santé. – Eating vegetables is good for your health.

Translate the following sentences into English.

Question

Protéger l’environnement est important.

Show answer

Protecting the environment is important.

Question

Nous aimons utiliser l’internet.

Show answer

We like using the internet.

Question

Il veut se relaxer.

Show answer

He wants to relax.

Next pageThe imperative - giving instructions in French

More guides on this topic

  • French nouns and articles
  • French prepositions
  • French adjectives
  • French adverbs
  • French pronouns
  • The French present tense
  • The French perfect and pluperfect tenses
  • The French imperfect tense
  • The French future tenses
  • The French conditional
  • Asking questions in French
  • Negatives in French

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