noun + de + infinitive

ByFast French

In French, when a noun is followed by an infinitive verb, the preposition de is placed between them.

Examples

  1. J’ai l’intention de finir ce projet demain.
    (I intend to finish this project tomorrow.)
  2. Elle a peur de perdre ses clés dans la rue.
    (She is afraid of losing her keys in the street.)
  3. Nous avons eu l’occasion de visiter le Louvre pendant notre voyage.
    (We had the opportunity to visit the Louvre during our trip.)
  4. Il montre toujours la volonté de travailler dur.
    (He always shows the willingness to work hard.)
  5. Tu as le droit de poser des questions après la réunion.
    (You have the right to ask questions after the meeting.)
  6. Elle a exprimé son désir de changer de carrière l’année prochaine.
    (She expressed her desire to change careers next year.)
  7. Ils ont la chance de vivre près de la mer.
    (They are lucky to live near the sea.)
  8. Le gouvernement a annoncé son plan de réduire les impôts.
    (The government announced its plan to reduce taxes.)
  9. J’ai oublié ma promesse de t’aider avec tes devoirs.
    (I forgot my promise to help you with your homework.)
  10. Elle a pris la décision de vendre sa maison.
    (She made the decision to sell her house.)
  11. Il a trouvé une façon de résoudre ce problème rapidement.
    (He found a way to solve this problem quickly.)
  12. Nous devons saisir l’opportunité de développer notre entreprise.
    (We must seize the opportunity to grow our business.)
  13. Il n’a pas la capacité de conduire une voiture manuelle.
    (He doesn’t have the ability to drive a manual car.)
  14. Elle a ressenti le besoin de partir immédiatement.
    (She felt the need to leave immediately.)
  15. Le médecin lui a donné l’ordre de se reposer pendant une semaine.
    (The doctor ordered him to rest for a week.)

Key Observations

  • The construction remains consistent: Noun + de + Infinitive, even when embedded in a full sentence.
  • The infinitive can take its own direct object (finir ce projet, perdre ses clés, visiter le Louvre).
  • Auxiliary verbs (avoir, être) appear in the main clause but do not affect the de + infinitive structure.

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

  • I do my best

    ByFast French

    The most common French translation of the phrase “I do my best” is “je fais de mon mieux,” but there are some variations and alternative translations that you should know about. “I do my best” in French: je fais de mon mieux The phrase “je fais de mon mieux” translates directly to “I do my…

  • sometimes

    ByFast French

    The English word “sometimes” can be rendered in French through several expressions, each carrying subtle differences in frequency, tone, or context. The most common translations include parfois, quelquefois, de temps en temps, and occasionnellement. Parfois Meaning: The most direct and neutral translation of “sometimes,” indicating occasional occurrence without specifying frequency. Usage: Examples: Quelquefois Meaning: Similar…

  • date

    ByFast French

    To talk about the date in French, you need to know numbers, the days of the week, the months of the year, plus a few other terms. Days of the week The french week starts on Monday. Days are not capitalised unless they start a sentence. To say “every Monday” or “on Mondays,” use le….

  • |

    process

    ByFast French

    The english word “process” is a broad term covering a series of actions, a procedure, a method, or a technical operation. There is no single french equivalent. The correct translation depends entirely on the specific context and meaning. The primary options are le processus, la procédure, le procédé, and le traitement. Le processus Use le…

  • almost

    ByFast French

    English has one word for “almost.” French has several, and each one carries its own shade of meaning. Choosing the right one depends on what kind of “almost” you mean: almost finished, almost fell over, almost midday, or almost but not quite. The main options are presque, quasiment, à peu près, pas tout à fait,…