French Note 39. VERB + ANOTHER VERB IN INFINITIVE FORM
1.In my last note , I promised to discuss the usage of all types of French verbs. Remember , there are several aspects to be covered in studying French verbs. It requires great efforts to understand the nuances of these verbs. I shall do this job gradually . One thing at a time.
2. There are certain verbs in French which are used with other verbs in infinitive form without any preposition coming in between the two verbs. The first verb is conjugated appropriately. I have with me a list of about 50 such verbs. I take up five in each note and explain their uses with simple examples.
VERBS
Pattern. First verb + second verb in the infinitive form
1. ADORER
Let us first turn to the origin of this word. If I want to sound learned I shall say " etymology ". But I want to keep it simple.
Latin " adorare" which means " to worship"
The original meaning of this word has a religious connotation . We adore God, a deity or a saint. Of course English has a word with similar meaning . " to adore". But now it is used to denote great love an intense liking , to love passionately both in French and English.
" Adorer" is a transitive verb in French.
Elle adore ses enfants.
She adores her children .
But in this note we are going to see how this verb is used with other verbs. Study the following examples.
(Adorer faire quelque chose ) (to adore doing something )
a) J' adore écouter les émissions de la Radio France Culture.
I adore listening to the programmes of Radio France Culture.
b) Mon fille adore marcher sous la pluie.
My daughter loves/ adores walking in rain.
c) Elle adore plaisanter
She adores/ loves passionately joking.
2. AIMER ( transitive verb taking direct object )
In my view , this is the most frequently used word in French. The Latin word " amor" means love. Just to show you that the word has Latin origin , I am giving you this information. " Aimer" means " to love or to like " . You may use this word in respect of persons as in English. " to love someone " . Or it can be used for " to love something " . Further you may love or like doing something . The use in French is similar to English. The following examples may be instructive. When you use " aimer" with another French verb , there is no need for a preposition . The structure will be,
" aimer faire qqch ". " to love to do something / or doing something
a) Je t' aime ! I love you.
Valentine Day is nearing . Many of you may be using this sentence . Ubiquitous in all
Valentine cards.
b). La mère Thérèse aime les pauvres.
Mother Theresa loves the poor.
c) Il aime faire du tennis .
He loves playing tennis.
d) Elle aime manger du chocolat .
She likes to eat chocolates.
3. AIMER MIEUX
" Aimer mieux " means to prefer. Whenever you have a choice to do several things , you prefer to do one thing rather than the other . In such circumstances , you can use this verb.
Now you learn two structures using this verb form consisting of a verb and adverb.
Aimer mieux faire quelque chose
Prefer doing something
Aimer mieux faire quelque chose + que + ( de) faire une autre chose.
Prefer doing something rather than doing some other thing. In the second structure , the use of " de" ( preposition ) is optional.
a)J' aime mieux rester chez moi.
I prefer to stay at home.
b)Elle aime mieux travailler en ligne.
She prefers to work online.
c) J' aime mieux dormir que ( de) regarder ce film.
I prefer sleeping to watching this film.
d) Elle aime mieux téléphoner à ses amies que (de) leur écrire .
She prefers téléphoning her friends to writing to them.
Important Point :
The verb " to telephone " is transitive verb taking a direct object in English and not in French. In French you should say , " téléphoner à qqn " In English it is " telephoning someone "
The use of " de" after " que" is optional in the above examples.
4. ALLER ( intransitive verb )
" aller" verb in French causes confusion among some learners for the simple reason that it can be used to indicate " near future " and in combination with other verbs and in such cases , it is not a question of " near future" . How to distinguish one from the other?
Quite simple.
For" Futur proche ( near future) , the verb " aller" has to be conjugated appropriately in present tense. Then the infinitive of the next verb follows it.
Future Proche
Aller ( conjugated in present tense ) + infinitive of the second verb
The meaning will be " going to do something shortly or in the near future "
Examples
a) Je vais prendre du thé .
I am going to take tea.
Future proche can be used in respect of any verb which denotes action. You can form as many sentences as possible. Hope you follow.
However , " aller " followed by another verb in infinitive form may have a special meaning and in those cases " aller" may be conjugated in any tense depending on the context and not necessarily in the present as in the case of " futur proche". Do you get what I say ? Let me give the verbal expressions involving "aller".
1. Aller chercher - to go to fetch someone
Elle va chercher son frère .( not futur proche)
She goes to fetch her brother.
Elle est allée chercher son frère.
She went to search her brother.
Have you understood the difference between " futur proche " and use of " aller " with other verbs in infinitive form to give some meaning to the expression .
I am giving more expressions with " aller "
1. Aller demander qqch à qqn
To go to somebody for something
Je vais demander de l' argent à mon ami.
I go to my friend for money.
2. Aller faire des courses
To go shopping
3. Aller nager
To go for a swim
4.aller voir
To visit
5. Aller voir qqn
To go and see someone.
6. Aller se coucher
To go to bed.
Il est presque minuit . Je vais me coucher.
It is nearing midnight . I am going to bed.
Hope you are clear about the use of " aller" . Remember I have not exhausted all in respect of this verb. In course of time, more will unfold. I have to find time for that.
5. COMPTER FAIRE QQCH( se proposer de faire qqch , avoir l'intention de faire qqch)
" compter" means to count. But the meaning of the above expression is something different It means "to intend to do something "
Je compte aller à Chennai le 31 janvier .
I intend to go to Chennai on 31 st January .
Vous comptez venir chez moi ?
Do you intend to come to my place ?
That is all for now. I shall continue this series quite for sometime.
Happy learning . Point out inadvertent errors which can be corrected.
Sayee Jayaraman
12/1/2015
11/02/2015
1.In my last note , I promised to discuss the usage of all types of French verbs. Remember , there are several aspects to be covered in studying French verbs. It requires great efforts to understand the nuances of these verbs. I shall do this job gradually . One thing at a time.
2. There are certain verbs in French which are used with other verbs in infinitive form without any preposition coming in between the two verbs. The first verb is conjugated appropriately. I have with me a list of about 50 such verbs. I take up five in each note and explain their uses with simple examples.
VERBS
Pattern. First verb + second verb in the infinitive form
1. ADORER
Let us first turn to the origin of this word. If I want to sound learned I shall say " etymology ". But I want to keep it simple.
Latin " adorare" which means " to worship"
The original meaning of this word has a religious connotation . We adore God, a deity or a saint. Of course English has a word with similar meaning . " to adore". But now it is used to denote great love an intense liking , to love passionately both in French and English.
" Adorer" is a transitive verb in French.
Elle adore ses enfants.
She adores her children .
But in this note we are going to see how this verb is used with other verbs. Study the following examples.
(Adorer faire quelque chose ) (to adore doing something )
a) J' adore écouter les émissions de la Radio France Culture.
I adore listening to the programmes of Radio France Culture.
b) Mon fille adore marcher sous la pluie.
My daughter loves/ adores walking in rain.
c) Elle adore plaisanter
She adores/ loves passionately joking.
2. AIMER ( transitive verb taking direct object )
In my view , this is the most frequently used word in French. The Latin word " amor" means love. Just to show you that the word has Latin origin , I am giving you this information. " Aimer" means " to love or to like " . You may use this word in respect of persons as in English. " to love someone " . Or it can be used for " to love something " . Further you may love or like doing something . The use in French is similar to English. The following examples may be instructive. When you use " aimer" with another French verb , there is no need for a preposition . The structure will be,
" aimer faire qqch ". " to love to do something / or doing something
a) Je t' aime ! I love you.
Valentine Day is nearing . Many of you may be using this sentence . Ubiquitous in all
Valentine cards.
b). La mère Thérèse aime les pauvres.
Mother Theresa loves the poor.
c) Il aime faire du tennis .
He loves playing tennis.
d) Elle aime manger du chocolat .
She likes to eat chocolates.
3. AIMER MIEUX
" Aimer mieux " means to prefer. Whenever you have a choice to do several things , you prefer to do one thing rather than the other . In such circumstances , you can use this verb.
Now you learn two structures using this verb form consisting of a verb and adverb.
Aimer mieux faire quelque chose
Prefer doing something
Aimer mieux faire quelque chose + que + ( de) faire une autre chose.
Prefer doing something rather than doing some other thing. In the second structure , the use of " de" ( preposition ) is optional.
a)J' aime mieux rester chez moi.
I prefer to stay at home.
b)Elle aime mieux travailler en ligne.
She prefers to work online.
c) J' aime mieux dormir que ( de) regarder ce film.
I prefer sleeping to watching this film.
d) Elle aime mieux téléphoner à ses amies que (de) leur écrire .
She prefers téléphoning her friends to writing to them.
Important Point :
The verb " to telephone " is transitive verb taking a direct object in English and not in French. In French you should say , " téléphoner à qqn " In English it is " telephoning someone "
The use of " de" after " que" is optional in the above examples.
4. ALLER ( intransitive verb )
" aller" verb in French causes confusion among some learners for the simple reason that it can be used to indicate " near future " and in combination with other verbs and in such cases , it is not a question of " near future" . How to distinguish one from the other?
Quite simple.
For" Futur proche ( near future) , the verb " aller" has to be conjugated appropriately in present tense. Then the infinitive of the next verb follows it.
Future Proche
Aller ( conjugated in present tense ) + infinitive of the second verb
The meaning will be " going to do something shortly or in the near future "
Examples
a) Je vais prendre du thé .
I am going to take tea.
Future proche can be used in respect of any verb which denotes action. You can form as many sentences as possible. Hope you follow.
However , " aller " followed by another verb in infinitive form may have a special meaning and in those cases " aller" may be conjugated in any tense depending on the context and not necessarily in the present as in the case of " futur proche". Do you get what I say ? Let me give the verbal expressions involving "aller".
1. Aller chercher - to go to fetch someone
Elle va chercher son frère .( not futur proche)
She goes to fetch her brother.
Elle est allée chercher son frère.
She went to search her brother.
Have you understood the difference between " futur proche " and use of " aller " with other verbs in infinitive form to give some meaning to the expression .
I am giving more expressions with " aller "
1. Aller demander qqch à qqn
To go to somebody for something
Je vais demander de l' argent à mon ami.
I go to my friend for money.
2. Aller faire des courses
To go shopping
3. Aller nager
To go for a swim
4.aller voir
To visit
5. Aller voir qqn
To go and see someone.
6. Aller se coucher
To go to bed.
Il est presque minuit . Je vais me coucher.
It is nearing midnight . I am going to bed.
Hope you are clear about the use of " aller" . Remember I have not exhausted all in respect of this verb. In course of time, more will unfold. I have to find time for that.
5. COMPTER FAIRE QQCH( se proposer de faire qqch , avoir l'intention de faire qqch)
" compter" means to count. But the meaning of the above expression is something different It means "to intend to do something "
Je compte aller à Chennai le 31 janvier .
I intend to go to Chennai on 31 st January .
Vous comptez venir chez moi ?
Do you intend to come to my place ?
That is all for now. I shall continue this series quite for sometime.
Happy learning . Point out inadvertent errors which can be corrected.
Sayee Jayaraman
12/1/2015
11/02/2015
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