noun + de + infinitive

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

  • relever & un relevé

    The French verb relever is versatile. Its core idea is to lift, raise, or pick up. From this base meaning, it can describe physical actions, recovering from a fall, correcting or improving something, noticing, responding to a challenge, or adding flavor. The noun relevé is related and often used in formal or practical contexts. Below…

  • chacun son truc

    Understanding “Chacun son truc” “Chacun son truc” is a common French expression that translates to “to each their own” or “everyone has their thing.” It conveys the idea that everyone has their own preferences, tastes, or ways of doing things. This phrase is often used to express tolerance or acceptance of different behaviors or choices….

  • panne

    The French language has a set of related words built around the root “panne,” which all have to do with breakdowns, repairs, and troubleshooting. 1. “Panne” (Feminine Noun) “Panne” refers to a breakdown or failure, usually of a machine, vehicle, or system. Common Usage Examples: 2. “Être en panne” (Expression) The expression “être en panne”…

  • tant mieux, tant pis

    In French, the expressions “tant mieux” and “tant pis” are common idiomatic phrases used to respond to situations with a sense of acceptance or resignation. These versatile expressions help speakers convey their reactions to various circumstances succinctly and expressively. Tant mieux (so much the better) “Tant mieux” is used to express satisfaction, approval, or pleasure…

  • être en train de

    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…