Maîtrise les nuances : l'art de la précision anglaise
Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the intricate dance of verbs and prepositions to achieve true English fluency.
- Identify correct verb-pattern pairings.
- Master complex phrasal verbs.
- Apply nuanced grammatical structures.
Ce que tu vas apprendre
Tu parles déjà bien, mais tu sens qu'il te manque ce petit « truc » pour sonner vraiment naturel ? Ce chapitre est le pont qui te fera passer d'un anglais correct à un anglais fluide et nuancé. On va plonger au cœur des structures qui font la richesse de la langue : les motifs verbaux. Tu apprendras enfin à choisir avec assurance entre le gérondif en '-ing' et l'infinitif, et surtout à comprendre pourquoi dire 'stop smoking' n'a rien à voir avec 'stop to smoke'. On s'attaquera aussi aux collocations essentielles : ces duos de mots comme 'proud of' ou 'reason for' qui ne s'inventent pas mais se ressentent. Tu découvriras comment utiliser des verbes à particule complexes (get on with, look forward to) et comment ne plus jamais hésiter entre 'do' et 'make'. Imagine-toi en train de raconter une anecdote avec une précision chirurgicale grâce aux verbes de perception, ou de briller lors d'un entretien en utilisant des formes complexes comme 'to have done'. À la fin de ce chapitre, tes phrases ne seront plus de simples traductions du français, mais des structures authentiques. Prêt à transformer ton expression et à parler comme un pro ? C'est parti !
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Verbes avec 'To': Décider, Promettre, Gérer (Infinitifs Seulement)Maîtriser les verbes suivis de
to+ infinitif rend ton anglais plusnatureletprécis. -
Verbes suivis uniquement d'un gérondif : Le Club du '-ing'Maîtriser ces verbes qui n'acceptent que le gérondif rendra ton anglais super naturel et fluide. C'est la clé de la
fluiditéet de laprécision. -
Verbes à Sens Changeant (Gérondif vs Infinitif)C'est une question de timing : utilise le gérondif pour un
souvenir passéet l'infinitif pour unetâche future. Maîtrise ces nuances pour éviter les quiproquos avecpast vs futureetaction vs purpose. -
Sens et Phrases : Verbes de PerceptionOn affine ta précision : utilise la base verbale pour le résultat global et le
-ingpour l'immersion dans l'action. Tes outils :bare infinitive,present participle,perception. -
Adjectifs + Prépositions (fier de, passionné par)Maîtriser ces duos rend ton anglais super fluide. Utilise les bons badges comme
proud of,keen onougood atpour sonner comme un pro. -
Verbes à particule en trois parties (s'entendre avec, attendre avec impatience)Maîtriser les phrasal verbs à trois mots te permet de débloquer un anglais
natureletfluidedans les situationsquotidiennes. -
Do or Make: Choosing the Right VerbDo is for activities, tasks, and work (often undefined or general). Make is for creating, producing, or causing something. Many collocations must simply be learned.
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Noun + Preposition Collocations: Reason for, Advantage of, Lack ofMany nouns in English are followed by a fixed preposition. These collocations cannot be guessed from grammar alone — they must be learned as fixed chunks.
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Verb + Object + Infinitive or Gerund: Want Him to Go, See Her LeavingMany verbs take an object followed by either a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive or -ing form. The pattern depends on the verb — it must be learned for each.
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Complex Infinitive and Gerund Forms: To Have Done, Having Done, To Be DoingBeyond basic -ing and to-infinitive, English has perfect and continuous forms: to have done (completed before now), having done (completed before the next action), to be doing (in progress at a time).
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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By the end you will be able to: Use gerunds and infinitives correctly in professional emails.
Guide du chapitre
Overview
How This Grammar Works
rule about what follows them. Think of it like this: some verbs are followed by a 'to-infinitive' (e.g., 'decide to go', 'promise to call', 'manage to finish'). These verbs act as gates, only allowing the 'to' form to pass.I decided to study abroad,not
I decided studying abroad.These are generally about future intentions or commitments.
I enjoy playing tennisor
She avoids making mistakes.Trying to use
enjoy to play or avoid to make would immediately flag you as a non-native speaker.I remember locking the doorrefers to a past memory (you recall the *action* of locking), while
I remembered to lock the doormeans you didn't forget to perform the *task* of locking it. This subtle distinction is crucial for clear communication.
He stopped talking) or to pause one action in order to do another (
He stopped to talk).
I saw him leave the building) and a gerund for an action in progress (
I saw him leaving the building). Finally, to truly sound like a B2 speaker, you need to master adjectives + prepositions (like 'proud of', 'keen on', 'interested in') and three-part phrasal verbs (e.g., 'get on with', 'look forward to').
Common Mistakes
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I avoid to make mistakes when speaking English.
I avoid making mistakes when speaking English.
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He stopped talking to buy a coffee.
He stopped to buy a coffee.(or
He stopped talking because he wanted to buy a coffee.)
Stopped talking means he ceased the action of talking. Stopped to buy means he paused his journey/activity *in order* to buy a coffee. The infinitive shows purpose.- 1✗
I am looking forward seeing you next week.
I am looking forward to seeing you next week.
Look forward to is a common three-part phrasal verb where 'to' is a preposition, not part of a to-infinitive. Therefore, it must be followed by a gerund.Real Conversations
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Quick FAQ
Why is it sometimes remember to do and sometimes remember doing?
Remember to do means you recall a necessary action you have to perform (e.g.,
I must remember to buy milk).
Remember doing means you have a memory of a past event or action (e.g., I remember buying that book last year).
How do I know if a verb takes a gerund or an infinitive?
There are patterns, but often it comes down to memorization and exposure. Many verbs related to feelings (enjoy, hate, like), avoiding, or continuing take gerunds. Verbs related to decisions, plans, or intentions often take infinitives. Keep a list and practice!
Are three-part phrasal verbs common in everyday English?
Absolutely! They are incredibly common and essential for sounding natural. Phrases like get on with, look forward to, put up with, and run out of are used constantly in casual and even semi-formal conversation.
What's the difference in meaning between
I saw him runand
I saw him running?
I saw him runimplies you saw the complete action from beginning to end.
I saw him runningsuggests you witnessed part of the action while it was in progress, like a snapshot.
Cultural Context
Exemples clés (6)
I **decided to pursue** a career in environmental science.
J'ai décidé de poursuivre une carrière en sciences de l'environnement.
Verbes avec 'To': Décider, Promettre, Gérer (Infinitifs Seulement)She **promised to text** me when she arrived home safely.
Elle a promis de m'envoyer un message quand elle serait rentrée chez elle en toute sécurité.
Verbes avec 'To': Décider, Promettre, Gérer (Infinitifs Seulement)I really enjoy learning new languages.
J'adore apprendre de nouvelles langues.
Verbes suivis uniquement d'un gérondif : Le Club du '-ing'Have you considered joining the university debate team?
As-tu envisagé de rejoindre l'équipe de débat universitaire ?
Verbes suivis uniquement d'un gérondif : Le Club du '-ing'I'm really looking forward to the concert tonight.
J'attends vraiment le concert de ce soir avec impatience.
Verbes à particule en trois parties (s'entendre avec, attendre avec impatience)We should get on with our group project now.
Nous devrions continuer notre projet de groupe maintenant.
Verbes à particule en trois parties (s'entendre avec, attendre avec impatience)Conseils et astuces (4)
Cherche l'intention derrière l'action
to + infinitif. Pense à ce que tu as l'intention de faire. I intend to finish this project by Friday.
Regroupe les verbes similaires
Le contexte est roi !
I forgot meeting himet
I forgot to meet him.
Complet vs En cours
I saw him painting the fence.
Vocabulaire clé (5)
Real-World Preview
Office Meeting
Review Summary
- Verb + to + base
- Verb + -ing
- Verb + -ing/-to
- See/Hear + Object + -ing
- Adj + Prep
- Verb + Part + Part
- Do (task) / Make (create)
- Noun + Prep
- Verb + Object + to
- Having + V3
Erreurs courantes
Enjoy is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive. It's a common error for many learners.
In this phrasal verb, 'to' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a gerund.
Homework is a task, so we use 'do'. 'Make' is for creating something new.
Règles dans ce chapitre (10)
Next Steps
You have done an amazing job! Keep practicing these patterns in your daily conversations.
Write a journal entry using 5 new patterns.
Pratique rapide (10)
He ___ a profit.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Do or Make: Choosing the Right Verb
He seems ___ (to be working/to have worked) right now.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Complex Infinitive and Gerund Forms: To Have Done, Having Done, To Be Doing
I heard the baby ___ (cry/crying) from its room all night.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Sens et Phrases : Verbes de Perception
She appears ___ (to be waiting/to have waited) for hours.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Complex Infinitive and Gerund Forms: To Have Done, Having Done, To Be Doing
Find and fix the mistake:
I made the dishes.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Do or Make: Choosing the Right Verb
She watched him to walk away without saying goodbye.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Sens et Phrases : Verbes de Perception
Choose the correct sentence:
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Sens et Phrases : Verbes de Perception
There is a lack ___ resources.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Noun + Preposition Collocations: Reason for, Advantage of, Lack of
He stopped ___ (smoke) years ago for his health.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbes à Sens Changeant (Gérondif vs Infinitif)
Find and fix the mistake:
She avoids to talk about her past experiences.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbes suivis uniquement d'un gérondif : Le Club du '-ing'
Score: /10
Questions fréquentes (6)
decide, promise et manage sont suivis de to + la forme de base d'un autre verbe (un infinitif). Par exemple : I decided to leave.
I hope to succeed.
stop smoking veut dire que tu arrêtes la cigarette. Stop to smoke veut dire que tu t'arrêtes de marcher pour en griller une.I like swimming (plaisir général) et I like to swim(habitude), la différence est subtile, pas radicale comme avec 'stop'.