Infinitive after Certain Verbs
The infinitive is most often used as the complement of another verb. Some verbs are followed immediately by the infinitive and do not require a preposition. These may be categorized as follows:
Verbs of motion and perception. For example:
- Je le regarde travailler. (I watch him work.)
- Nous les entendons crier. (We hear them shouting.)
- Elle voit ses enfants jouer. (She sees her children playing.)
The verbs most often used this way are:
- apercevoir (to notice)
- écouter (to listen)
- entendre (to hear)
- paraître (to appear)
- regarder (to watch)
- voir (to see)
Verbs indicating thought or most declarative verbs. For example:
- Il espère pouvoir venir. (He hopes to be able to come.)
- Elle nie connaître ce garçon. (She denies knowing that boy.)
The verbs most often used this way are:
- affirmer (to affirm)
- croire (to believe)
- espérer (to hope)
- nier (to deny)
Other common verbs:
- Je préfère lire. (I prefer reading.)
- Il faut écouter attentivement. (It is necessary to listen attentively.)
The verbs most often used this way are:
- aimer mieux (to prefer)
- aller (to go)
- compter (to intend)
- désirer (to desire)
- devoir (to have to)
- envoyer (to send)
- faire (to make, to do)
- falloir (to be necessary)
- laisser (to allow, to let)
- oser (to dare)
- pouvoir (to be able to)
- préférer (to prefer)
- savoir (to know)
- sembler (to seem)
- souhaiter (to wish)
- valoir mieux (to be worth)
- vouloir (to wish, to want)