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

  • il faut VS devoir

    What is the difference between il faut (it is necessary) and devoir (to have to, must)? The answer is that il faut expresses an impersonal, general, or external necessity, while devoir expresses a personal, specific, or internal obligation. They are not simply interchangeable. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the differences: 1. The Nature of the…

  • irregular past participles

    The past participle (participe passé) is a key component of many French verb tenses. While most French verbs form their past participles regularly (-é, -i, or -u endings), some of the most common verbs have irregular past participles. Here are the 30 most frequently used irregular past participles, along with pronunciation guides and examples in…

  • The pronoun “en”

    The French pronoun en can be translated in many ways depending on the context. It often means “some,” “any,” “some of it,” “some of them,” “of it,” “of them,” “from it,” “from them,” or even “about it” or “about them.” It replaces a phrase introduced by de and is used to avoid repetition. En usually…

  • obligation

    French expresses obligation through several common structures. The most frequent tools are devoir, falloir, être obligé de, and impersonal expressions built with être nécessaire de or similar forms. Each conveys the idea that an action is required, but they differ in whether the subject is personal, impersonal, or formal. Devoir Devoir is the most common…

  • Police in France

    France has a complex and highly structured law enforcement system. French police forces fall into two main categories: civilian and military. Each force has a unique role in maintaining public order, enforcing the law, and ensuring national security. 1. The Two Main National Police Forces There are two main national police forces in France. They…

  • French Verbs of Leaving

    In French, several verbs convey the idea of “leaving” in English, but they are not interchangeable. The verbs quitter, partir, and laisser each carry distinct meanings, grammatical constructions, and emotional nuances. Understanding their differences is essential for accurate and idiomatic usage. Quitter: To Leave (Someone or Something) The verb quitter is a transitive verb, meaning…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *