In French verbs can be followed by the prepositions à and de plus an infinitive. French teachers often refer to these verbs as being ‘married to’ these prepositions. This page deals with verbs followed by à. Here you can learn about French verbs followed by de.
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top-10 verbs followed by à
Table of Contents
AIDER À + INF = TO HELP
- Je t’aide à préparer le repas dans la cuisine. I help you to prepare the meal in the kitchen.
S’AMUSER À + INF = TO HAVE FUN
- Les enfants s’amusent à jouer ensemble. The kids are having fun playing together.
ARRIVER À + INF = TO MANAGE TO
- J’arrive à réparer la voiture. I manage to repair the car.
COMMENCER À + INF = TO START TO
- Je commence à comprendre les leçons. I’m starting to understand the lessons.
S’HABITUER À + INF = TO GET USED TO
- Je m’habitue à habiter ici. I’m getting used to living here.
S’INTERESSER À + INF = TO BE INTERESTED IN
- Je m’interesse à apprendre le français. I’m interested in learning French.
INVITER À + INF = TO INVITE
- Je vous invite à dîner chez nous. I’m inviting you to have dinner at our place.
SE METTRE À + INF = TO START
- Je me mets à réviser les leçons. I start reviewing the lessons.
RÉUSSIR À + INF = TO SUCCEED IN
- Je réussis à bien parler après quelques mois. I succeed in speaking well after a few months.
PENSER À + INF = TO THINK ABOUT
- Je pense à partir en vacances en septembre. I’m thinking about going on vacation in September.
complete verb list
INFINITIVES | ENGLISH |
aider à | to help to |
apprendre à | to learn how to |
arriver à | to mange to, be able to |
aspirer à | to aspire to |
autoriser à | to authorize to |
avoir à | to have to |
chercher à | to try to |
commencer à | to start to |
consentir à | to consent to |
continuer à | to continue |
hésiter à | to hesitate to |
inciter à | to encourage to |
inviter à | to invite to |
parvenir à | to reach, attain, manage to |
passer son temps à | to spend ones time doing |
penser à | to think about |
renoncer à | to give up |
réussir à | to succeed in |
s'accoutumer à | to get accustomed to |
s'amuser à | to have fun, enjoy oneself |
s'attendre à | to expect to |
s'ennuyer à | to get bored doing something |
s'exercer à | to practice, train |
s'habituer à | to get used to |
s'inerésser à | to be interested in |
s'obstiner à | to persist, persevere |
se consacrer à | to devote oneself to |
se decider à | to make up ones mind to |
se metter à | to start to, begin to |
se préparer à | to prepare to |
se résigner à | to resigne oneself to |
songer à | to think about, long for |
tendre à | to tend to |
tenir à | to insist on |
viser à | to aim at |
THE FOLLOWING ARE CONSTRUCTED: VERB QUELQU'UN A FAIRE QUELQUE CHOSE | |
aider qqn à faire qqch | to help somebody do something |
autoriser qqn à faire qqch | to authorize somebody to do something |
encourage qqn à faire qqch | to encourage somebody to do something |
engager qqn à faire qqch | to urge somebody to do something |
forcer qqn à faire qqch | to force somebody to do something |
obliger qqn à faire qqch | to oblige somebody to do something |
example sentences
- Je pense à faire du ski. I’m thinking about skiing.
- Tu songes à partir en vacances. You’re thinking about going on vacation.
- Il apprend à nager. He’s learning to swim.
- Elle s’amuse à jouer avec les enfants. She has fun playing with the kids.
- Il tient à partir demain. He insists on leaving tomorrow.
- Je m’habitue à habiter dans ce village. I’m getting used to living in this town.
- Il commence à faire beau. It’s starting to get nice out.
- Elle commence à avoir faim. She’s starting to get hungry.
- J’aide mon ami à tondre la pelouse. I help my friend mowing the lawn.
- Je vous invite à diner chez moi. I’m inviting you to have dinner at my place.
Related lessons
- French verbs followed by the preposition de
- French preposition à overview
- French preposition de overview
- French verbs not followed by a preposition
More resources
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