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Fiche de Révision: Infinitives

 

 

 

Usage of infinitives:

 

 

• When one verb follows another with no conjunction between them, the first verb is conjugated and the second verb remains infinitive.

                        Ex: Je veux suivre ce cours.

 

• NOTE: Pay attention to the difference between the construction (conjugated verb+ an infinitive) and the construction of passé compose (conjugated auxiliary verb+ past participle).

Ex: Elle en retard à l’examen.

 

 

• When reflexive verbs are used as infinitives following a conjugated verb, the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject of the main verb.

Ex. espérons inscrire sans problèmes.

 

• A verb appears in its infinitive form following a preposition (except ).

Ex. Il travaille dur afin d’avoir de bonnes notes à la fin de l’année.

 

• After the preposition the past infinitive must be used.

Ex. ses études, elle est retournée chez ses parents.

 

• An infinitive can be the subject of a sentence.

Ex. une université canadienne, c’est faire l’experience de la vie nord-américaine.

 

Formation of infinitives:

 

• Two tenses for infinitives: past and present.

 

• Past infinitive is formed with the infinitive or + the past participle of the main verb.

 

Ex.

         Étudier avoir étudié

Rentrerêtre rentré

• NOTE: The agreement rules that apply to the passé compose construction also apply to the past infinitive. In verbs conjugated with the auxiliary the past participle agrees with the subject of the sentence.

Ex. de vacances, a recommencé à travailler sur la livre.

 

• To negate an infinitive, both and (or other negative form) are placed in front of the infinitive.

Ex. Il est préférable de une année.