Verb + Infinitive Patterns — I can use common verb + infinitive patterns to express what I like/want/need to do.

Historical Context & Motivation

Have you ever wanted to say something like "I want to travel" or "She likes to dance" in French? In English, we pair a main verb ("want," "like") with an infinitive ("to travel," "to dance") all the time without even thinking about it. French works in a remarkably similar way, and this verb + infinitive pattern is one of the most useful tools you can learn early in your French journey. Understanding how this structure evolved and why it matters will help you unlock a huge amount of everyday communication.

French descends from Latin, where infinitive constructions already played a central role. Over the centuries, as Latin morphed into Old French and then Modern French, the language simplified many of its verb forms but kept the infinitive as a workhorse—a kind of "base form" of the verb that could be plugged in after conjugated verbs to express complex ideas with minimal effort. Let's look at a brief timeline of how this pattern developed.

The central question this lesson addresses is straightforward: How do you combine a conjugated verb with an infinitive in French to express what you like, want, or need to do? Once you master this pattern, you'll be able to form hundreds of sentences with just a handful of key verbs.

Core Principles & Definitions

Before diving into examples, let's establish the foundational ideas behind verb + infinitive patterns. An infinitive is the unconjugated, "base" form of a verb—the form you find in the dictionary. In French, infinitives end in -er (like parler), -ir (like finir), -re (like vendre), or -oir (like vouloir). When you place an infinitive after a conjugated verb, you create a verb + infinitive pair that expresses a more complex idea than either verb alone.

Visual Explanation

As the diagram shows, the formula is refreshingly simple. You pick your subject, conjugate the first verb to match it, and then attach the infinitive directly after. The infinitive carries the meaning of the actual action, while the conjugated verb provides the "flavor"—whether you want to do it, like to do it, need to do it, or can do it. Once you memorize the conjugations of these key verbs, you can combine them with any infinitive in the language.

How It Works — Key Verbs & Conjugations

To use verb + infinitive patterns effectively, you need to know the conjugations of the most common "trigger" verbs—the verbs that frequently appear before infinitives. Let's break down the six most important ones for French 1, grouped by meaning.

Expressing Want & Ability

Expressing Preference

Detailed Breakdown — Verb Categories

Not all verbs that precede infinitives work the same way. In French 1, the verbs you encounter most often connect directly to the infinitive with no preposition in between. However, as you advance in French, you'll discover verbs that require the preposition à or de before the infinitive. The diagram below classifies these three categories so you can see the big picture.

For now, commit the green column to memory. The verbs vouloir, pouvoir, devoir, aimer, préférer, and détester are your bread and butter. Each one connects directly to any infinitive without any preposition in between. As you advance to French 2 and beyond, you'll gradually learn which verbs belong in the yellow and pink columns. For now, just be aware that those categories exist so you aren't surprised later.

Worked Example

Let's walk through a complete example. Imagine you want to say: "We must study French, but we prefer to watch a film." Let's build this sentence step by step.

French vs. English — Similarities & Differences

The verb + infinitive pattern is one of the areas where French and English actually overlap quite a bit. However, there are some important differences that can trip up English speakers. The table below highlights the key similarities and differences.

Connection to Advanced French

The verb + infinitive pattern you're learning now is the foundation for much more complex constructions that you'll encounter in French 2, 3, and beyond. Mastering the direct-connection verbs now will make it much easier to add preposition-based patterns later. Here's a preview of how this concept grows.

The exciting takeaway is that the skill you're building right now—recognizing the conjugated verb + infinitive structure—will serve you for your entire French career. Every new verb you learn can potentially slot into this pattern. You're not just memorizing sentences; you're learning a generative system that lets you create an infinite number of original sentences.

Practice Problems

Test your understanding of verb + infinitive patterns with the following five problems, arranged from basic recall to critical thinking.

Summary