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

  • ay sound

    ByFast French

    French has one clean, closed vowel sound that English speakers usually associate with “ay,” as in the English word “day.” What makes it tricky is that French writes this single sound in several different ways, and in most of these spellings, a final consonant is written but not pronounced. Recognising the pattern makes reading French…

  • entendre

    ByFast French

    Understanding the French Verb “Entendre” The French verb entendre is a versatile verb with multiple meanings. While its primary meaning is “to hear,” entendre can also mean “to intend,” “to get on well,” or even “to agree (on),” depending on the context. 1. Meanings of Entendre First Meaning: To HearIn its most common usage, entendre…

  • I think so

    ByFast French

    Translating “I Think So” into French The phrase “I think so” has several equivalents in French, each offering a slightly different nuance. Depending on the level of certainty, tone, or context, there are multiple ways to convey this idea. Here’s a guide to the most common translations and when to use them. 1. Je pense…

  • starboard & port

    ByFast French

    In French, tribord and bâbord are the nautical terms for “starboard” and “port.” These words are used to describe the right and left sides of a ship when facing forward. Meanings and Usage Etymology Contrast with English In English, “starboard” and “port” serve the same function, but the origins differ slightly:

  • à tout hasard

    ByFast French

    À tout hasard means “just in case” or “on the off chance”. Word for word, à is “at”, tout is “any” and hasard is “chance”, so the phrase translates literally as “at any chance”. It describes an action taken as a precaution, without knowing whether it will actually be needed. The phrase does not introduce…

  • negative past infinitive

    ByFast French

    The negative past infinitive in french is formed with ne pas (or ne … pas) placed before the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) in the infinitive, followed by the past participle. It expresses that an action did not happen before another action or before the present moment. Structure: ne pas + avoir/être + past participle…