French Verbs with Prepositions before Infinitives (apprendre à, décider de)
à or de to link with an infinitive action.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In French, many verbs require a specific preposition ('à' or 'de') before adding an infinitive verb to complete the action.
- Use 'à' for verbs of movement, effort, or habit: 'J'apprends à parler.'
- Use 'de' for verbs of emotion, decision, or completion: 'Je décide de partir.'
- Memorize the verb-preposition pair as a single unit, not as separate words.
Overview
In French grammar, the connection between two consecutive verbs is not always direct. While some verbs can be followed immediately by an infinitive (e.g., Je veux manger), a large and crucial category of verbs requires a preposition—typically à or de—to serve as a grammatical bridge. This structure, verbe + préposition + infinitif, is a fundamental aspect of French verb valency, where the main verb dictates the grammatical structure of its complement.
Think of it this way: the verb décider isn't just 'to decide'; its complete identity in French is décider de faire quelque chose (to decide to do something). The preposition is not an optional decoration but an integral part of the verb's syntax when it governs another action.
For a B2 learner, moving beyond simple verb chains is essential for fluency. Mastering whether to use à, de, or no preposition at all is a hallmark of advanced proficiency. It eliminates hesitation and corrects common, fossilized errors.
The choice between à and de is not random; it is determined by the meaning and origin of the governing verb. This guide provides the semantic groupings, structural rules, and common exceptions to help you internalize these patterns, making your French sound more precise and natural.
Conjugation Table
| Subject | Conjugated Verb (Verbe 1) | Preposition | Infinitive (Verbe 2) | Full Sentence Example | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ||
Je |
commence |
à |
comprendre |
Je commence à comprendre. |
||
Tu |
as décidé (passé composé) |
de |
partir |
Tu as décidé de partir. |
||
Elle |
n'hésite pas (négatif) |
à |
poser |
Elle n'hésite pas à poser des questions. |
||
Nous |
nous habituons (pronominal) |
à |
nous lever |
Nous nous habituons à nous lever tôt. |
||
Vous |
aviez oublié (plus-que-parfait) |
d' |
éteindre |
Vous aviez oublié d'éteindre la lumière. |
||
Ils |
risquent |
de |
manquer |
Ils risquent de manquer leur train. |
How This Grammar Works
à or de) serves to introduce this object, which is why it is often considered a complément d'objet indirect (COI).Je continue de lire, the action de lire is the 'thing' that Je continue. The preposition de is the grammatical marker required by continuer to introduce this type of complement.décider de partir (to decide to leave) is conceptually parallel to décider d'un départ (to decide on a departure). The infinitive phrase de partir is the object of the verb décider.Je décide de le faire (I decide to do it). The pronoun le is the object of faire, not décide.I am thinking my vacation instead of I am thinking about my vacation. The preposition is the structural glue that defines the relationship between the main verb and the action that follows.Formation Pattern
Sujet + [ne] + Verbe 1 (conjugué) + [pas] + préposition (à/de) + [pronom] + Verbe 2 (infinitif)
Verbe 1): This verb changes to agree with the subject and tense. Je réussis, nous réussirons.
ne...pas (or other negative adverbs) always wraps around the conjugated verb. Je n'arrive pas à dormir.
à or de): This is fixed based on Verbe 1. A crucial detail is elision: de becomes d' before a word starting with a vowel or silent h. For example, Il a peur d'échouer. Note that à does not typically elide in this structure.
le, la, les, y, en) and reflexive pronouns (me, te, se...) that are the object of the infinitive are placed immediately before the infinitive.
J'ai oublié de t'appeler. (I forgot to call you.)
Elle s'habitue à se concentrer. (She is getting used to concentrating.)
When To Use It
à for verbs implying a goal, beginning, or effort toward an action:- Beginning/Continuing:
commencer à,se mettre à(to start),continuer à(to continue),persister à(to persist in). - Aim/Effort/Success:
chercher à(to seek to),viser à(to aim to),réussir à(to succeed in),parvenir à(to manage to),arriver à(to manage to). - Learning/Teaching/Helping:
apprendre à,enseigner à,former à(to train to),aider à(to help to),encourager à(to encourage to). - Hesitation/Invitation:
hésiter à(to hesitate to),inviter à(to invite to),s'attendre à(to expect to).
Le gouvernement cherche à réduire le chômage. (The government seeks to reduce unemployment.)de for verbs implying a source, separation, or communication about an action:- Decision/Choice:
décider de,choisir de,accepter de(to agree to),refuser de(to refuse to). - Ending/Stopping:
arrêter de,finir de,cesser de(to cease to),s'empêcher de(to stop oneself from). - Communication/Advice:
dire de,demander de,conseiller de,proposer de,suggérer de. - Feelings/Emotions:
craindre de(to fear),avoir peur de,regretter de,se réjouir de(to be delighted to). - Memory/Forgetting:
se souvenir de,oublier de. - Possibility/Risk:
risquer de,menacer de(to threaten to).
Elle a regretté de ne pas être venue. (She regretted not having come.)When Not To Use It
à/de rule. Several categories of verbs connect directly to an infinitive without any preposition. Using one here is a significant mistake.- Modal and Semi-Modal Verbs: These express modality like ability, necessity, or desire.
pouvoir(can),devoir(must),vouloir(want),savoir(know how to).- Example:
Je dois partir.(NOTJe dois de partir.)
- Verbs of Preference: These express liking or disliking an activity.
aimer,adorer,préférer,détester,haïr.- Example:
Elle aime nager.(NOTElle aime de nager.)
- Verbs of Perception: These describe seeing, hearing, or feeling an action happen.
voir,entendre,écouter,regarder,sentir.- Example:
J'entends les enfants crier.(I hear the children shouting.)
- Verbs of Motion (to express purpose):
aller,venir,retourner,monter,descendreoften link directly to an infinitive to state the goal of the motion. - Example:
Je vais chercher du pain.(I am going to get bread.) This pattern is a close cousin of thepour+ infinitive structure but is more immediate and common in speech.
- Others:
sembler,paraître,oser(to dare),faillir(to almost do something). - Example:
Il semble comprendre la situation.
Common Mistakes
- 1Direct Translation from English: The phrase 'to + verb' in English does not systematically translate to
à. The most frequent error is withdécider. English 'decided to' sounds likeà, but it is alwaysdécider de.
- 1Overgeneralizing Prepositions: Learners often add
deoràafter verbs that don't need it, especially verbs of preference. SayingJ'aime de lireis a classic error.Aimer,préférer,détesterare always followed directly by an infinitive.
- 1Forgetting Elision: Forgetting to contract
detod'before a vowel (Il a accepté de aider) sounds unnatural. It must beIl a accepté d'aider. This is a phonological rule that cannot be ignored.
- 1Incorrect Pronoun Placement: Placing the object pronoun before the conjugated verb instead of the infinitive. For
I decided to tell him, the correct form isJ'ai décidé de lui dire, notJe lui ai décidé de dire. The pronoun belongs to the verb it is the object of.
- 1Confusing
essayer: Whileessayer deis the standard for 'to try to do something' (J'essaie de dormir), you may encounters'essayer à, which means 'to try one's hand at' a discipline or art (Elle s'essaie à la peinture). For most situations,essayer deis the correct choice.
- 1Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun on Pronominal Verbs: With verbs like
s'habituer à, both the conjugated verb and the infinitive phrase can have a reflexive pronoun.Je m'habitue à me lever tôt.Omitting the firstm'(J'habitue à me lever) is grammatically incorrect.
Memory Trick
To move beyond rote memorization, associate the prepositions with a core idea. This mental shortcut can help you make an educated guess when unsure.
À is for Aiming/Action Forward: Think of à as an arrow → pointing toward a goal or a destination. It often implies a forward-moving, proactive, or goal-oriented process.
- You commence à (start →), apprends à (learn →), cherches à (seek →), réussis à (succeed →).
- It bridges the subject to the achievement or performance of an action.
DE is for Describing/Departing: Think of de as 'of', 'from', or 'about'. It often implies an origin, a separation, or a comment about an action.
- You parles de (speak of), décides de (decide from options), arrêtes de (stop from doing), oublies de (forget about).
- It links a verb of thought, communication, or state to the concept of an action.
Create flashcards with verb 'chunks' (apprendre à, finir de). Practice saying them in full sentences. This builds muscle memory, so the correct preposition becomes automatic rather than a conscious choice.
Real Conversations
Observing these patterns in context is vital. Notice how they appear in everyday digital and spoken French.
- Texting / Casual Chat:
— T'as fini de préparer tes affaires ? (Have you finished packing your things?)
— Presque ! J'hésite à prendre ce livre ou pas. (Almost! I'm hesitating about whether to take this book or not.)
— Arrête de te poser des questions et prends-le ! (Stop asking yourself questions and take it!)
- Professional Email:
Objet: Suivi de notre conversation
Bonjour Madame Dubois,
Je me permets de vous écrire pour vous demander de valider le budget prévisionnel avant la fin de la semaine. Notre équipe cherche à finaliser la planification du projet.
(I am writing to ask you to validate the provisional budget... Our team is seeking to finalize the project plan.)
- Social Media Comment:
Wow, ça donne envie d'essayer de faire la même chose ! (Wow, that makes you want to try to do the same thing!)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
À/DE vs. POUR + Infinitive: This is a frequent point of confusion.POURexpresses the purpose or goal of an action. It answers the question 'Why?'.Je suis venu pour t'aider.(Why did I come? To help you.) The verbvenirdoes not intrinsically requirepour.À/DEare structurally required by the preceding verb.J'ai commencé à travailler.(The verbcommencerrequiresà.)J'ai décidé de partir.(The verbdéciderrequiresde.) Here, the infinitive phrase is the object of the verb, not its purpose.
finir de + inf.= to finish doing something.J'ai fini de lire.(I finished the act of reading.)finir par + inf.= to end up doing something (often unexpectedly).Après des heures de débat, il a fini par accepter.(He ended up accepting.)
commencer à + inf.= to begin doing something.Il commence à pleuvoir.(It's starting to rain.)commencer par + inf.= to start by doing something (as a first step).Commencez par lire les instructions.(Start by reading the instructions.)
continuer à / de + inf.: In modern French, these are largely interchangeable.continuer àis more common in spoken language, whilecontinuer decan feel slightly more formal or literary. You can generally useàwithout issue.
Progressive Practice
Level 1: Choose the correct preposition (à, de, or ø for none).
Il a accepté ___ nous rejoindre.
Vous préférez ___ rester à la maison ?
Nous n'arrivons pas ___ ouvrir cette bouteille.
Je te promets ___ t'appeler demain.
Elles ont vu le voleur ___ s'enfuir.
(Answers: 1: de, 2: ø, 3: à, 4: de, 5: ø)
Level 2: Build a sentence from the given elements.
(Je / se souvenir / fermer la porte) → Je me souviens d'avoir fermé la porte.
(Tu / ne pas réussir / le convaincre) → Tu n'as pas réussi à le convaincre.
(Elle / vouloir / apprendre / coder) → Elle veut apprendre à coder. (Note the two patterns here!)
Level 3: Find and correct the mistake.
J'ai essayé d'appeler mais je n'ai pas pu de le joindre. → ...je n'ai pas pu le joindre.
Il m'a conseillé à lire ce livre. → Il m'a conseillé de lire ce livre.
On aime d'aller au restaurant le week-end. → On aime aller au restaurant...
Quick FAQ
No single, absolute rule exists. However, the most effective method is to associate semantic categories with each preposition: à for goal-oriented actions (aiming, beginning, succeeding) and de for commentary actions (deciding, advising, remembering).
It's a noticeable grammatical error that can mark you as a non-fluent speaker. While context usually makes your meaning clear, it disrupts the natural rhythm of the sentence, similar to saying 'I am capable for do it' in English.
à and de?Yes, but they are rare and often involve a change in meaning. The most common pairs are commencer à/par, finir de/par, and the largely interchangeable continuer à/de. Focus on mastering the main lists first.
The infinitive phrase remains intact. On m'a demandé de venir. (Active) becomes Il m'a été demandé de venir. (Passive). The de venir complement is unaffected.
Isolated list memorization is inefficient. It's far better to learn verbs as 'chunks' within a context. Create your own sentences that are meaningful to you, such as J'apprends à faire du vélo or J'ai décidé d'arrêter de fumer.
Verb + Preposition + Infinitive Structure
| Subject | Conjugated Verb | Preposition | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
apprends
|
à
|
parler
|
|
Tu
|
décides
|
de
|
partir
|
|
Il
|
aide
|
à
|
finir
|
|
Elle
|
refuse
|
de
|
manger
|
|
Nous
|
commençons
|
à
|
travailler
|
|
Vous
|
essayez
|
de
|
comprendre
|
Elision of 'de'
| Preposition | Before Consonant | Before Vowel |
|---|---|---|
|
de
|
de partir
|
d'aller
|
Meanings
This rule governs the use of 'à' or 'de' as a bridge between a conjugated verb and a subsequent infinitive. It is essential for grammatical accuracy as the choice of preposition is determined by the main verb.
Movement or Effort (à)
Used with verbs indicating a process, effort, or movement toward an action.
“Il aide à préparer le dîner.”
“Je réussis à finir mon travail.”
Decision or Completion (de)
Used with verbs indicating the end of an action, a decision, or a mental state.
“J'ai fini de manger.”
“Il refuse de parler.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
S + V + Prep + Inf
|
Je décide de partir.
|
|
Negative
|
S + ne + V + pas + Prep + Inf
|
Je ne décide pas de partir.
|
|
Question
|
Est-ce que + S + V + Prep + Inf ?
|
Est-ce que tu décides de partir ?
|
|
Inversion
|
V + S + Prep + Inf ?
|
Décides-tu de partir ?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Oui/Non + S + V + Prep + Inf
|
Oui, je décide de partir.
|
|
Elision
|
S + V + d' + Inf
|
J'ai décidé d'attendre.
|
Formality Spectrum
Je m'efforce de terminer. (Daily task)
J'essaie de finir. (Daily task)
J'essaie de finir. (Daily task)
Je tente le coup de finir. (Daily task)
The Preposition Bridge
à (Effort/Movement)
- apprendre à learn to
- aider à help to
de (Decision/State)
- décider de decide to
- finir de finish
Examples by Level
J'apprends à parler français.
I am learning to speak French.
Je décide de partir.
I decide to leave.
Il aide à cuisiner.
He helps to cook.
Elle finit de manger.
She finishes eating.
Nous essayons de comprendre.
We are trying to understand.
Tu commences à travailler.
You are starting to work.
Ils refusent de sortir.
They refuse to go out.
Je t'invite à danser.
I invite you to dance.
Il a réussi à obtenir le poste.
He succeeded in getting the job.
J'ai oublié de fermer la porte.
I forgot to close the door.
Elle hésite à accepter.
She hesitates to accept.
Nous avons arrêté de fumer.
We stopped smoking.
Il s'efforce à bien faire son travail.
He strives to do his work well.
Je crains de ne pas pouvoir venir.
I fear I won't be able to come.
Ils se préparent à partir en voyage.
They are preparing to go on a trip.
Elle a fini de rédiger son rapport.
She has finished writing her report.
Il s'est mis à pleuvoir soudainement.
It started to rain suddenly.
Elle a omis de mentionner ce détail.
She omitted to mention this detail.
Nous nous attendons à recevoir une réponse.
We expect to receive an answer.
Il a fini par accepter de venir.
He ended up agreeing to come.
Il convient de souligner ce point.
It is appropriate to highlight this point.
Elle s'est résolue à agir.
She resolved to act.
Il a pris la peine de nous écrire.
He took the trouble to write to us.
Nous sommes parvenus à résoudre le problème.
We managed to solve the problem.
Easily Confused
Learners think all verbs need a preposition.
Common Mistakes
J'apprends parler
J'apprends à parler
Je décide de manger
Je décide de manger
J'ai fini à manger
J'ai fini de manger
Il a omis à dire
Il a omis de dire
Sentence Patterns
Je commence à ___.
Il a décidé de ___.
Elle réussit à ___.
Nous refusons de ___.
Real World Usage
Je cherche à améliorer mes compétences.
Je finis de manger, j'arrive !
Veuillez confirmer de valider votre commande.
Je me prépare à partir.
J'apprends à cuisiner des plats français.
Il convient de noter que...
Group your verbs
Watch for elision
Use flashcards
Listen to native speakers
Smart Tips
Always pause and ask: does this verb need a bridge?
Always contract to 'd'' to sound natural.
Learn it with its preposition immediately.
Check a dictionary for the verb's complementation.
Pronunciation
Elision
When 'de' is followed by a vowel, it becomes 'd'' and is pronounced as one syllable with the next word.
Statement
Je décide de partir. ↘
Falling intonation at the end of a declarative sentence.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: 'À' is for Action/Movement (like an arrow), 'DE' is for Decision/End (like a period).
Visual Association
Imagine an arrow (à) pointing forward to an action, and a stop sign (de) indicating the end of an action.
Rhyme
If it's effort, use 'à', if it's done, use 'de' today.
Story
I decided (décider de) to leave. I started (commencer à) to walk. I finished (finir de) my journey. I succeeded (réussir à) in arriving.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about your day using one 'à' verb and one 'de' verb.
Cultural Notes
Formal French often uses these structures in professional emails.
Similar usage, though some regional verbs might vary in preposition preference.
Standard French rules apply in formal education and administration.
These structures evolved from Latin, where case endings handled relationships between verbs and nouns/infinitives.
Conversation Starters
Qu'est-ce que tu apprends à faire en ce moment ?
As-tu décidé de partir en vacances ?
Qu'est-ce que tu essaies de changer dans ta vie ?
Qu'est-ce que tu as fini de lire récemment ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Il commence ___ travailler.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
J'apprends de parler français.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I am trying to understand.
Answer starts with: J'e...
A: Tu aides ton frère ? B: Oui, je l'aide ___ faire ses devoirs.
Elle / refuser / de / sortir
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesIl commence ___ travailler.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
J'apprends de parler français.
de / finir / je / manger / ai
I am trying to understand.
A: Tu aides ton frère ? B: Oui, je l'aide ___ faire ses devoirs.
Elle / refuser / de / sortir
Match: 1. Apprendre, 2. Décider
Score: /8
Practice Bank
8 exercisesNous avons décidé ____ partir en voyage.
Je t'aide de faire tes devoirs.
apprendre / à / il / conduire / doit
I forgot to call my mom.
Elle a réussi ____ obtenir son diplôme.
Match the pairs:
Ils s'arrêtent ____ fumer.
Je veux d'aller au cinéma.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Modal verbs like 'vouloir' or 'pouvoir' express necessity or desire and don't need a bridge.
Generally, 'à' is for movement/effort, 'de' is for completion/decision, but memorization is key.
'Pour' indicates purpose, not a grammatical link between verbs.
The negation surrounds the conjugated verb, the preposition remains.
No, the preposition is fixed to the verb.
'de' becomes 'd'' and 'à' remains 'à'.
Yes, they are essential for formal French.
Use flashcards and write sentences daily.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Verbo + a/de + Infinitivo
The specific verbs requiring each preposition differ slightly.
zu + Infinitiv
German is much more consistent with 'zu' than French is with 'à/de'.
Verb + to + Infinitive
English lacks the 'de' preposition counterpart.
Verb-stem + ni/no + suru
The structure is entirely different.
Verb + an + Verb
Arabic does not have the 'à/de' distinction.
Verb + Verb
Chinese has no prepositions between verbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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