adjective + de + infinitive

ByFast French

In French, when an adjective is followed by an infinitive verb, the preposition de is frequently placed between them. This structure creates a direct relationship between the quality expressed by the adjective and the action denoted by the verb. Unlike the noun + de + infinitive construction, this pattern specifically links descriptive qualities to actions.

Structure and Usage

The basic formula is:
Adjective + de + Infinitive

This construction appears in various contexts to express:

  • Emotional reactions to actions
  • Evaluations of actions
  • Personal characteristics in relation to actions
  • Necessity or importance of actions

Complete Sentence Examples

  1. Je suis heureux de te revoir. (I’m happy to see you again.)
  2. Elle était surprise d’apprendre la vérité. (She was surprised to learn the truth.)
  3. Nous sommes prêts de commencer le projet. (We’re ready to start the project.)
  4. Il est important de bien préparer l’examen. (It’s important to prepare well for the exam.)
  5. Tu es courageux de dire la vérité. (You’re brave to tell the truth.)
  6. C’est difficile de comprendre cette théorie. (It’s hard to understand this theory.)
  7. Elle semble contente de participer. (She seems happy to participate.)
  8. Ils sont fiers d’avoir gagné. (They’re proud to have won.)
  9. Je suis désolé de t’avoir fait attendre. (I’m sorry to have made you wait.)
  10. Il est impossible de prévoir l’avenir. (It’s impossible to predict the future.)

Important Notes on Usage

1. Preposition Variation: While de is common, some adjectives require à:
  • Ce problème est facile à résoudre (This problem is easy to solve)
  • Elle est lente à comprendre (She’s slow to understand)
2. Formal vs. Informal: In spoken French, de is sometimes omitted in rapid speech:
  • Je suis content te voir (instead of Je suis content de te voir)
3. Pronoun Placement: When using object pronouns, they precede the infinitive:
  • Je suis heureux de vous rencontrer (I’m happy to meet you)
4. Compound Tenses: With auxiliary verbs, the structure remains the same:
  • J’ai été surpris d’entendre cette nouvelle (I was surprised to hear this news)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing de and à:
  • Incorrect: Content à voir
  • Correct: Content de voir
2. Omitting de in formal writing:
  • Incorrect (formal): Important faire
  • Correct: Important de faire
3. Misplacing pronouns:
  • Incorrect: Heureux de te voir vous
  • Correct: Heureux de vous voir

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • quant à

    ByFast French

    The French expression quant à means as for, regarding, or with regard to. It is used to introduce a change of subject or to contrast one topic with another. It is followed by a noun or pronoun and does not change form. It always introduces a subordinate element and is not used as the subject…

  • hors d’œuvres

    ByFast French

    The term hors d’oeuvres refers to small dishes of food served before a meal. They are meant to be eaten in one or two bites. They are often passed around on trays at parties or set out on a table for guests to take for themselves. The idea is to take the edge off hunger…

  • j’en serai quitte

    ByFast French

    The French phrase “j’en serai quitte” means “I will just have to,” “I will get away with it,” or “all it will cost me is…” The word “quitte” comes from the idea of being free of a debt or obligation once something has been paid or endured. In everyday French, this phrase often introduces the…

  • en + present participle

    ByFast French

    In French, the structure en followed by the present participle (le participe présent) is used to express actions happening simultaneously, means of doing something, or cause and effect. The English equivalents are often “while,” “by,” or “in.” The present participle is formed by taking the nous form of the verb in the present tense, removing…

  • être en train de

    ByFast French

    In French, there is no direct equivalent to the English present continuous (“I am eating”) or past continuous (“I was eating”). Instead, French speakers use the construction “être en train de” + infinitive to emphasize that an action is (or was) in progress. This guide will cover how to use it in both the present…

  • jusqu’à

    ByFast French

    Jusqu’à is a common French preposition meaning “until,” “up to,” or “as far as,” depending on context. It expresses a limit in time, space, quantity, or extent. Its form changes slightly when combined with certain words, producing variants such as jusqu’au, jusqu’aux, jusqu’en, and jusqu’à ce que. 1. Temporal use: “until” When referring to time,…