Where to use infinitive form of a verb perfectly

What is an infinitive verb?

Infinitive is the base form of the verb.  These are non-conjugated verbs.  In french there are 3 main groups of verbs, 

Er ending verbs like parler, manger etc. You can learn these verbs in detail by clicking here.

Re ending verbs like attendre, entendre etc

Ir ending verbs like grandir, finir etc.  To learn ir ending verbs, please click on the link 

 What are the different uses of infinitive:

👉As a noun with ing is used in English

Example:

• Travelling is fun.

    Voyager est amusant.

👉We can replace imperative by infinitive in recipe

Example:

• Add little bit of salt.

    Ajouter un peu de sel.

👉After some preposition such as pour sans, à, avant de, après de

Example:

• To stay in good health

    Pour rester en bonne forme

• In order to get good marks

   Àfin d’obtenir bonne notes

Click here to learn preposition perfectly 

👉After a conjugated verb, we always use an infinitive form

Example:

• I love dancing.

   J’aime dancer.

• We need to be on time.

   Nous devons être à l’heure.

Where to put pronom when there is also an infinitive verb in the sentence?

👉We place pronom between the two verbs.

Example:

• I want to drive the car.

        Je veux conduire la voiture.

        Je veux la conduire.

• We are going to announce the news to our parents.

       Nous allons annoncer la nouvelle à nos           parents.

      Nous allons la leur annoncer.

Read this too les pronoms interogatifs 

How to form negative sentence with infinitive form

In the infinitive the two parts of the negation [ ne….pas, ne…. rien, ne…. plus, ne…..pas encore etc] will ne placed before infinitive.

Example:

• He advised me not to insist him.

        Il m’a conseillé de ne pas l’insister.

• I am afraid that I could not pass the exams.

       J’ai peur de ne pas pouvoir réussir les            examens.

👉But when using ne…. Personne and ne….aucun, the two parts of the negation surround the infinitive.

Example:

• I was sad that I don’t see any od my friend in the party.

        J’étais triste de ne voir aucun de mes          amis à la soirée.

👉Negation surrounds the first verb, when the negation pertains to the first verb.

Example:

• I am not afraid of the exams.

      Je n’ai pas peur des examens.

PRONOMINAL VERBS IN INFINITIVE FORM

👉Reflexive pronoun comes between the conjugated verb and infinitive verb. 

Example:

• I am going to wake up soon.

        Je vais me réveiller tôt.

Pronominal verbs

In negation

• I am not going to wake up soon.

        Je ne vais pas me réveiller tôt.

THE PAST INFINITIVE

L’INFINITIF PASSÉ

Passé composé as its name, it is a compound tense. Just like other compound sentences, there is an auxiliary verb and that precedes the conjugated verb. As we already know in passé composé auxiliary verb [être or avoir] is in present form. In the past infinitive auxiliary verbs will be in infinitive form and main verb will be in past participle.

Read to know about passé composé

Example: 

• Thank you that you added me to the group.

      Merci de m’avoir ajouté au groupe.

• He is happy to have finished the exam.

          Il est heureux d’avoir fini l’examen.

👉Past infinitive follows the same rule as the compound sentence.

After après past infinitive will be used

Example:

• After watching the movie, I was happy.

       Après avoir regardé le filme, j’étais      heureuse. 

• After having gone to bad, I heard a noise.

        Après je suis couchée, j’ai entendu un bruit.( pronominal verb) 

                   Some examples 

Translate these sentences into French 

1. It is not easy to talk with her.
2. It is important to listen to your parents.
3. I have many books to buy.
4. It is difficult to answer the question.
5. After getting dressed, I had my breakfast.
6. Are you sure that you are not mistaken?
7. It is better not to tell him anything.

Answers of above exercise:

1. Il n’est pas facile de lui parler.
2. Il est importent à écouter vos parents.
3. J’ai plusieurs livres à acheter.
4. Il est difficile de répondre à la question.
5. Après m’être habillée, j’ai pris le petit-déjeuner.
6. Es-tu sûr de ne pas se tromper?
7. Il vaut mieux ne rien lui dire.