Prepositions after verbs

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29 entries linked to the lesson “Prepositions: place, time, and verb + à, de or infinitive” · Show all

Verb + à + infinitive

Commencer à, apprendre à, réussir à: the verb takes à before the infinitive that follows.

Verb + de + infinitive

Essayer de, décider de, oublier de: the verb takes de before the infinitive, often with à quelqu'un before it.

Verb + infinitive, no preposition

Vouloir, pouvoir, devoir, aimer, espérer: the infinitive follows directly, and any preposition is a mistake.

Verb + à someone or something

Téléphoner à, plaire à, ressembler à: the object is indirect, and it is replaced by lui, leur or y.

Verb + de someone or something

Se souvenir de, s'occuper de, avoir besoin de: the object is introduced by de, and it is replaced by en.

Verb + direct object, no preposition

Appeler quelqu'un, écouter la radio, attendre le bus: where Chinese or English use a preposition, French uses none at all.

Verb + en, sur, contre, avec, par, pour

Compter sur, croire en, se marier avec, finir par: a preposition that is neither à nor de, and that cannot be guessed.

The preposition changes the meaning

Penser à / penser de, jouer à / jouer de, manquer à / manquer de: the same verb, two constructions, two meanings.