Friday, 13 February 2015

FRENCH NOTE 42 VERB+INFINITIVE OF ANOTHER VERB

FRENCH NOTE 42

Verb + infinitive of another verb

16. ÉCOUTER - TO LISTEN

Écouter qqn parler - to hear  somebody speak


Est-ce qu'il y a quelqu'un dans cette chambre ? J'écoute  un homme parler.

Is there anyone in that room ? I hear a man speaking.

Écouter qqn chanter - to hear someone singing

Quand  je suis en train de parler avec mon ami au téléphone , j'écoute  sa fille chanter.

When I was taking to my friend over telephone , I hear his daughter singing.

Écouter le cœur se battre - to hear the heart beating


Elle écouté le cœur se battre .

She hears her heart beating.

17.ENTENDRE - TO HEAR


Entendre parler de qqch / qqn - to hear of something / somebody

Avez-vous entendu parler de Mahatma Gandhi ?

Have you heard of Mahatma Gandhi ?

18. FAILLIR -

Avoir failli + infinitive -  almost do something / happen something

Avoir été sur le point de se produire ou de subir qqch

L'accident a failli se produire.

The accident almost happened.

Elle a failli mourir.

She almost died.

Kindly pay attention to this verb. This usage is always in the past.

19. OSER - TO DARE

This is an  interesting verb. Generally , it is followed by infinitive.

 Je n'ose pas lui dire la vérité .

Je n'ose lui dire la vérité .

I dare not tell him the truth.

Note that in negative form, you can omit " pas "

Quelle audace !Vous osez contredire à ce que j'ai dit.

What audacity ! You dare contradict what I said.

20. POUVOIR - CAN

A very important verb ( modal verb)  which expresses possibility and frequently used. It is always followed by infinitive form of another verb. This verb has neither imperative nor passive form.

Je peux parler quatre langues.

I can talk four languages.

Elle ne peut pas marcher plus de 3 km.

She can not walk more than 3 km.


That is all for now.

Please point out inadvertent errors.

Sayee Jayaraman

28/01/2015

14/02/2015


























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