Verb + infinitive, no preposition
vouloir
no preposition
The constructions
no prepositionvouloir + infinitif
Meaning : to want to do
Je veux apprendre le chinois.
Do not writeJe veux à apprendre le chinois.
no prepositionvouloir quelque chose
Meaning : to want something
Elle veut un café.
Why
Vouloir is built directly, before an infinitive as before a noun: no preposition, ever. It is the pattern of the semi-auxiliaries pouvoir, devoir, savoir, and of the verbs of taste aimer, préférer, détester.
The trap for a Chinese speaker
English « want TO » puts in a preposition that French does not have. Here, Chinese 想 gets it right: nothing between the two verbs.
Read the full lesson : Prepositions: place, time, and verb + à, de or infinitive →