L'IMFIIMITIF / INFINITIVE

The infinitive has two tenses, presentand past. When negated, the ne pas is placed before the infinitive expression.

 

L'INFINITIF PRESENT / PRESENTINFINITIVE

1. English equivalent:I like to run. Don't tell me not to go.

2. Construction: Courir. Ne pas taire.

   Infinitives of reflexive verbs agree with the subject of the sentence. Je veuxm'en souvenir.(I want to remember.) Ilest important de s'en souvenir.(It's important to remember.)

3. Use:

   1. As the complement of anotherverb: Je sais chanter. Elle préfère ne pas venir. Many verbs require the useof a preposition before the infinitive: Elle m'apromis de ne plus le taire.

   2. In the futurproche and the passè immèdiat. see below.

   3. Conjugated faire+ infinitive: causative construction:to express having something done or having/makingsomeone do something: conjugated faire+ infinitive. Hier j'ai fait nettoyer ma maison. (YesterdayI had my house cleaned.) Tu fais rire les enfants.(You're making the children laugh.) Elle s'est fait brosser les cheveux. (She had her hair brushed).

   4. As a verbal noun:

      1. As a subject: Danserm'amuse. (Dancingamuses me.)

      2. As the object of a preposition: IIest important d'etre a i'heure. (it's important to be on time.) II est parti sansdire au revoir. (He left without saying goodbye.)

 

L'lNFINITIF PASSE / PAST INFINITIVE

1. English equivalent:It is something, I thought, to have seen the dust of Shakespeare. 'Tis better to have lovedand lost.

2. Construction:infinitive of avoir êtreor + past participle (which follows rules of agreement as usual.) avoir vu, ne pas être descendu(e), s'être reveillé(e)(s)

3. Use:in the same situations as the present infinitive—except that the abstract action is in the past. Je me sens mieux apres m'être lavé les mains.(I feel betterafter having washed my hands.)

 

INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTION: LE PASSÉ RÉCENT / RECEN PAST

1. English equivalent:I have just washed the window.

2. Construction: venir de+ infinitive. Je viens d'arriver.

3. Use: To express the immediate past.

This construction can also be used in the imperfect: Ilvenait de rentrer chez lui quand le téléphone a sonné.(He had just come home when the phone rang.)

 

INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTION: LE FUTUR PROCHE / NEAR FUTURE

1. English equivalent:I am going to peel the oranges.

2. Construction: aller+ infinitive. Je vais peter les oranges.

3. Use:To express intended future, can also be used with the imperfect.